iiyxo-a-Vlu.^ 


SERMON, 


DELIVERED 

By  Rev.  Dr.  SNKLL, 

ON  THE  LAST  SABBATH  IN  JUNE,  1838, 
WHICH    COMPLETED  * 

THE   FORTIETH    YEAR   OF    HIS   MINISTRY 

CONTAINING 

A  BRIEF  HISTOR.Y  OF  THE  TOWN, 

AND    ESPECIALLY 

OF  THE  CHURCH  AND  PARISH, 
OF   NORTH   BROOKFIELD, 

FROM  1793  TO  THE  PRESENT  TIME. 


"  Which  we  have  heard  and  known,  and  our  fathers  have  told  us." — Psalms,  Ixxviii.  3. 


BROOKFIELD: 

E.  AND  L.  MERRIAM,  PRINTERS. 

1838. 


SERMON, 

DELIVERED 

By  Rev.  Dr.  SNKLL, 

on  the  last  sabbath  in  june,  1838, 

WHICH    COMPLETED 

TPIE   FORTIETH    YEAR   OF    HIS   MINISTRY; 

CONTAINING 

A  BRIEF  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN, 

AND    ESPECIALLY 

OF  THE  CHURCH  AND  PARISH, 
OF   NORTH   BROOKFIELD, 

FROM  1798  TO  THE  PRESENT  TIME. 


"  Which  we  have  heard  and  known,  and  our  fathers  have  told  us." — Psalms,  Ixxviii.  3. 


BROOKFIELD: 

E.  AND  L.  MERRIAM,  PRINTERS. 

1838. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 
AT  AMHERST 


UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 

Special  Collections  &  Rare  Books 


were  appointeil 
your  discourse, 
opy  for  publica- 
an  Appendix  or 


Committee. 


NOTICE. 

Any  one  who  shall  read  the  following  Discourse,  w.U  perceive  that  it  was  written  and  i. 
now  pubUshed  for  local  purposes-for  the  inka.itants  of  ^-'^.^'"-'^^  t:!'".,:  Di" 
preserve  same  facts  which  may  be  uiteresting  to  future  generations. -Wher.Core  the  D.s- 
rrse  is  not  expected  to  excite  any  interest  amongst  those  who  arc  stranger,  to  the  place, 
especially,  in  its  minute  details. 


SERMON. 


PSALM  cxxvi.  3. 


THE  LORD  HATH  DONE  GREAT  THINGS  FOR  US,  WHEREOF  WE  ARE 
GLAD. 

The  Jews  had  been  carried  into  captivity  by  their  enemies,  be- 
cause they  had  rebelled  against  the  Lord.  They  had  been  taken 
by  the  heathen,  and  planted  amongst  them,  far  away  from  their  be- 
loved country,  and  city,  and  temple,  and  religious  privileges.  Se- 
venty years  after  their  captivity,  though  according  to  divine  predic- 
tions, Cyrus,  who  ascended  the  throne  of  Persia,  issued  a  procla- 
mation for  the  return  of  the  Jews  to  their  own  country  and  the 
rebuilding  of  the  Temple  for  the  worship  of  the  true  God.  This 
proclamation  was  so  unexpected  to  most  of  the  Jews  that  it  seemed 
more  like  a  pleasing  dream  than  a  reality.  Their  mouth  was  filled 
with  laughter  and  their  tongue  with  singing,  when  they  contemplated 
their  restoration,  so  unexpected  and  extraordinary,  and  so  congenial 
to  their  feelings.  Even  the  heathen  noticed  the  good  hand  of  God 
in  the  event — while  the  Jews  themselves  cried  with  thankful  hearts, 
"  The  Lord  hath  done  great  things  for  us,  whereof  we  are  glad." 
On  seeing  how  God  had  turned  their  captivity  according  to  his  word 
of  promise,  they  could  not  but  rejoice  and  speak  of  their  happy  deli- 
verance with  gladness  of  heart.  While  Cyrus  proclaimed  their  resto- 
ration, these  pious  people  would  ascribe  it  to  the  good  hand  of  God 
whose  agency  is  concerned  even  in  the  fall  of  a  sparrow.  In  every  de- 
liverance, in  every  favor,  in  every  change,  the  pious  mind  never  rests, 
till  it  arrives  to  the  all-controlling  agency  of  the  great  Supreme,  which 
makes  every  event  to  speak  an  intelligible  langu-age,  calling  the  suf- 
ferer to  humiliation,  and  the  unworthy  recipient  of  favors  to  gratitude 
and  obedience.  For  the  worshippers  of  the  true  God,  who,  for  their 
sins,  had  been  torn  from  their  country  to  dwell  among  the  heathen 


4 

far  away  from  all  they  valued,  to  be  again  restored  to  their  own  city 
and  temple  and  freedom,  was  a  great  thing,  which  might  well  fill  their 
hearts  with  rejoicing.  It  was  a  very  delightful  and  surprising  event — 
one  of  great  interest  to  them  as  a  people,  as  the  church  of  God,  and 
as  a  nation  ;  while  an  event  that  illustrated  the  mercy  and  faithfulness 
of  their  Great  Redeemer. 

Most  things  are  great  or  small,  only  in  way  of  comparison.  "  The 
Lord  hath  done  great  things  for  us."  But  what  are  the  interests  of 
an  individual,  compared  with  those  of  a  whole  town,  embracing  many 
hundreds  of  individuals  'I  What  the  interests  of  a  town  compared 
with  those  of  a  state  ?  What  those  of  an  individual  state  compared 
with  an  empire,  or  the  world?  Still  the  world  is  made  up  of  empires, 
empires  of  states,  states  of  districts,  and  districts  of  individuals.  Take 
all  the  individuals  away  and  where  will  be  the  empires  ?  The  events 
however,  which  fill  up  the  life  of  an  individual,  or  which  go  to  make 
up  the  history  of  a  single  town  or  parish,  form  an  item,  and  it  may  be, 
•an  important  item,  in  the  history  of  our  world.  In  the  history  of 
Pope's  Creeck,  in  Westmoreland,  Virginia,  you  will  find  recorded  in 
1732,  the  birth  of  the  Hero  of  the  American  Revolution,  the  want  of 
whose  history  would  occasion  an  awful  blank  in  that  of  this  country. 
The  history  of  Lexington  for  1775,  embraces  an  event  which  had 
most  important  bearings  upon  the  history  of  this  nation.  The  history 
of  Eisleben  in  Germany,  presents  you  with  the  birth  of  a  child  in 
3483,  a  very  common  event,  besure ;  but  it  v,'as  the  birth  of  Luther, 
the  father  of  the  Reformation,  who  by  his  talents,  learning,  and 
piety,  united  with  his  fortitude,  firmness,  and  devotion,  broke  the 
Papal  yoke  from  off  the  necks  of  millions  and  shook  to  its  founda- 
tions the  throne  of  the  man  of  sin.  The  small  city  of  Bethlehem 
was  rendered  forever  memorable,  by  the  birth  of  the  babe  in  the 
iTianger,  whither  the  star  guided  the  wise  men  of  the  East,  for  he  was 
the  Savior  of  the  world — the  Eternal  Word  made  flesh,  the  brightness 
of  God's  glory.  But  if  none  of  the  events  v/hich  transpire  in  a 
single  parish,  have  any  such  serious  bearing  upon  the  state  of  a  na- 
tion, or  fill  such  a  space  in  the  history  of  the  world,  still  they  are 
interesting  to  those  in  whose  days  and  under  whose  eye  they  happen, 
and  may  stand  connected  with  greater  events  in  prospect,  and  even 
with  the  future  history  and  everlasting  destiny  of  thousnnds. 

The  events  which,  in  this  town,  have  filled  up  the  last  forty  years, 
have  no  very  special  interest,  perhaps,  above  those  which  occurred  in 
some  other  forty  years  of  our  history  ;  yet  since  they  have  all  passed 


under  my  ministry,  there  may  be  Some  propriety  in  calling  them  to 
remembrance  on  this  day,  which  closes  the  fortieth  year  of«iy  labors 
among  you,  as  a  Religious  Teacher.  It  may  be  well  to  consider  the 
way  in  which  the  Lord  has  led  us,  and  all  the  great  things  he  has 
done  for  us,  that  we  may  be  glad  and  give  glory  to  his  name. 

Forty  years  next  Wednesday  will  have  elapsed,  since  I  was  ordain- 
ed Pastor  of  the  church  of  Christ  in  the  North  Parish  of  Brookfield. 
The  ordaining  council  consisted  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Fiske,  Rev.  Messrs, 
Eli  Forbes,  Joshua  Paine,  Ephraim  Ward,  Joseph  Pope,  Elisha  Fish, 
Charles  Backus,  Daniel  Tomlinson  and  John  Fiske,  together  with 
delegates  from  their  respective  churches.  Long  since,  they  have  all, 
with  the  exception  of  the  last  two,  ceased  from  their  labors  and  been 
housed  in  the  grave,  awaiting  the  trump  of  the  Archangel.  That 
day,  the  27th  of  June  1798,  was  to  me,  and  to  this  church  and  people, 
a  solemn  day.  I  did  not  then,  neither  do  I  now^  fully  realize  hoio 
solemn  and  interesting,  since  the  high  relations  then  established  have 
by  the  good  providence  of  God  been  so  long  continued — much  longer 
than  we  had  reason  to  anticipate.  In  my  own  case  is  to  be  found 
the  second  instance  in  the  Commonwealth,  in  which  a  Minister  was 
settled  with  conditions  respecting  his  dismission.  Judging  from  the 
continuance  of  this  connection  for  so  many  years,  and  through  so 
many  and  such  various  changes,  in  concerns  so  exciting,  we  should 
not  conclude  that  conditions  of  settlement  properly  guarded,  are  very 
unfavorable  to  the  permanency  of  the  pastoral  relation.  If  a  general 
and  serious  dissatisfaction  with  a  minister  exist,  which  cannot  be 
removed,  a  dissolution  of  the  relation  ought  to  be,  and  will  be,  ef- 
fected, let  him  be  settled  as  he  may.  And  no  minister  should  con- 
sent to  hold  his  relation  to  a  people  to  their  evident  injury. 

I  said  that  my  ministry  had  continued  longer  than  we  had  reason 
to  anticipate.  Whether  our  expectations  were  founded  on  your  past 
experience,  or  upon  observation.  Brookfield  Association  embraces 
18  churches,  one  recently  organized  and  which  has  settled  a  Pastor, 
two  others  without  an  acting  Pastor,  but  who  are  about  to  re-settle 
the  Christian  ministry  amongst  them  ;  and  other  two  which  continue 
under  the  charge  of  Pastors  whom  they  settled  forty  years  since  :  and 
still  in  these  18  churches  there  have  been  settled  during  my  ministry 
4G  ministers.  If  you  take  from  the  18,  the  church  recently  organiz- 
ed and  the  two  who  retain  their  Pastors,  the  average  number  of  Pas- 
tors each  of  the  rest  would  have  received  in  40  years,  would  be  three  : 
one  in  every  thirteen  years  and   four  months.     None  of  tlie  15  have 


settled  less  than  two  Pastors,  and  some  five  ;  or  one  every  eight  years. 
This  frequent  change  of  ministers,  the  confident  opinion  of  profess- 
edly wise  men  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding,  is  one  of  the  most 
serious  evils  under  which  the  churches  are  laboring  at  the  present 
day.  A  fickle  minded  people,  who  make  all  goodness,  or  the  cause 
of  all  goodness,  to  consist  in  novelty  and  excitenient,  may  delight  in 
such  a  constant  succession  of  changes  :  but  these  changes,  in  fact, 
interrupt  and  hinder  the  execution  of  important  plans  of  benevolence 
and  improvement,  stand  in  the  way  of  attachments  strengthened  by 
time  and  interchange  of  kind  offices,  and  prevent  an  accumulating 
good  influence  from  being  exerted  to  the  stability  of  the  church  and 
the  fixedness  of  steady  habits.  This  is  not  the  only  evil  of  such  rapid 
changes  ;  for  it  has  a  ruinous  effect  upon  the  minds  of  most  Ministers. 
While  their  opportunities  for  study  are  diminished,  their  temptations 
to  neglect  it  are  increased.  With  a  very  little  intellectual  furniture, 
and  a  few  sermons  comprising  all  their  divinity,  and  about  all  their 
ideas,  they  make  their  way  among  the  churches.  Their  pond  is  soon 
empty,  and  when  out,  they  move  to  a  new  scene  of  lazy  labor,  except 
what  consists  in  vociferation,  or  uninteresting  repetitions.  Men  thus 
become  barren  and  lean,  feeling  but  little  interest  themselves,  and 
exciting  little  or  none  among  their  hearers. 

My  ministry,  having  been  wholly  confined  to  this  people  from  the 
very  commencement  of  my  preaching,  extends  over  a  period  that  usu- 
ally consumes  the  active  portion  of  a  man's  life,  and  gives  him  an 
opportunity  to  witness  many  interesting  changes,  and,  if  in  a  public 
station,  changes,  in  which  he  has  had  an  important  agency,  or  by 
which  he  has  been  seriously  affected,  no  less  than  others. 

I  propose  to  recount  some  of  the  most  interesting  events,  which, 
under  God's  all-wise  and  controlling  providence,  have  occurred  dur- 
ing the  forty  years  I  have  been  with  you. 

I.  I  shall  begin  with  a  brief  history  of  this  Parish,  which  was  in- 
corporated March  20th  1750.  When  party  politics  raged  in  the 
early  part  of  the  present  century,  the  North  Parish  of  Brookfield 
was  incorporated  into  a  town,  by  the  name  of  North  Brookfield. 
This  took  place  in  1812.  The  object  was  political  and  wholly  failed  ; 
still  its  incorporation  as  a  town  has  probably  conduced  to  our  wel- 
fare, and  certainly  to  our  great  convenience  and  to  a  reduction  of 
our  annual  expenses.  At  the  time  of  my  settlement,  the  scenery  was 
rural  beyond  almost  any  other  town  in  the  region,  the  population 
every  where  very  sparse,  and  not  five,  if  there  was  one,  well-finished 


and  neatly  painted  house  in  town — and  but  three  or  four  dwelling 
houses  within  about  half  a  mile  of  our  place  of  worship,  and  that  of 
all  others  was  a  place  of  the  greatest  retirement  and  the  most  pro- 
found silence  except  on  the  Sabbath.  The  spot,  while  far  from  cen- 
tral, furnishing  no  eligible  places  for  building,  and  there  being  no 
mercantile  business  in  town,  but  upon  a  very  small  scale,  and  but 
one  mechanic  within  nearly  a  mile,  the  house  of  worship  had  around 
it,  through  all  the  week,  a  remarkable  stillness  ;  unless  disturbed  by 
the  coming  and  going  of  the  sickly,  the  palsied,  those  afflicted  with 
swellings,  with  broken  limbs,  disjointed  bones,  and  putrid  sores,  and 
the  diseased  of  every  sort,  who  resorted  for  relief,  like  the  multitude 
around  Bethesda,  and  with  much  the  same  confidence  of  a  cure,  to 
your  far-famed  surgeon.  Dr.  Jacob  Kittridge,  whose  decease  in  1813 
was  so  much  lamented.*  The  age  and  infirmities  and  consequent 
coldness  of  your  former  house  of  worship,  without  any  means  of 
warming  it  in  severe  weather,  together  with  the  distance  of  dwelling 
houses  except  two  or  three,  rendered  the  condition  of  the  people  on 
a  cold  Sabbath  every  thing  but  tolerable;  and  the  labors  of  the  min- 
ister wholly  useless,  unless  to  afflict  his  hearers  with  a  long  discourse 
for  not  providing  a  warmer  house.  When  almost  every  one  was 
anxiously  looking  for  the  close  of  service  that  he  might  thaw  out 
from  his  morning's  freeze,  and  that  desire  was  to  be  read  in  the 
countenance  without  danger  of  mistake,  you  may  well  imagine,  that 
the  feelings  of  the  speaker  could  not  be  of  the  most  pleasant  sort, 
especially,  when  he  had  spent  half  the  week,  day  and  night,  in  pre- 
paring his  discourse.  I  wonder  that  so  many  people  then  attended 
public  worship  in  severe  weather,  making  their  way  for  miles  to  God's 
house,  without  any  means  of  warming  till  the  intermission.  Meet- 
ings, indeed,  were  comparatively  thin,  but  far  more  numerous  than 
we  should  imagine.  And  now  I  as  much  wonder,  that  so  many  ab- 
sent themselves  from  the  sanctuary,  as  I  then  did,  that  so  many  at- 
tended. 

Every  individual,  who  in  the  moderate  season  of  the  year  attended 
public  worship,  with  the  exception  of  some  half  dozen,  must  be  either 
a  pedestrian  or  a  horseman.  For  those  who  did  not  walk,  there  was 
but  one  mode  of  conveyance,  and  that  the  saddle  and  pillion.  A 
wagon  was  a  thing  unknown,  and  as  for  chaises,  there  were  but  three 
or  four  in  town,  and  scarcely  an  umbrella  for  protection  from  rain. 


8 

People  of  both  sexes  were  obliged  to  take  the  storm  as  it  was  sent ; 
and  thought  it  no  great  task  to  walk  in  clusters  two  and  three  miles 
to  the  sanctuary. 

The  inhabitants  were  all  husbandmen — even  the  few  mechanics, 
who  wrought  at  their  trades  merely  to  supply  town  customers,  were 
farmers  upon  a  smaller  or  larger  scale.  There  was  not  more  than  a 
single  mechanic  whose  ware  was  purchased  abroad,  while  we  were 
wholly  dependent  upon  other  places  for  most  kinds  of  mechanical 
business,  no  less  than  for  merchandise.  But  the  time  has  been  of 
late  in  which  the  principal  business  of  the  people  has  been  mechani- 
cal, rather  than  agricultural  ;  and  to  this,  in  connection  with  mer- 
chandise, have  they  looked  as  the  main  source  of  their  gains.*  Out- 
ward prosperity  in  itself  is  desirable,  and  so  is  an  increase  in  sub- 
stance, where  there  is  a  heart  to  use  it  with  gratitude  and  moderation,, 
and  employ  it  to  the  honor  of  God  in  promoting  human  happiness. 
How  much  the  people  from  being  husbandmen,  have  increased  in 
wealth  by  becoming  mechanics,  is  not  a  point  I  have  labored  to  as- 
certain ;  yet  one  thing  is  certain,  viz.  poor  families  have  very  much 
diminished  within  fifteen  years  past.  Many  who  were  very  destitute,, 
have  been  furnished  with  the  means  of  living  and  of  thrift,  and  being 
disposed  to  diligently  improve  them,  they  are  raised  to  a  competency 
far  above  discouragement  and  want.  And  scarcely  a  family  in  townt 
is  in  real  poverty,  but  through  the  blasting  influence  of  intemperance. 
How  much  the  change  of  business  has  diminished  helpless  pauperism 
may  not  by  any  be  fully  understood ;  yet  something  has  lessened  this 
bill  of  expense,  greatly  alleviated  the  distresses  of  some,  and  increased 
the  comforts  of  many  others,  while  we  are  surrounded  with  marks  of 
general  competence  and  prosperity.  The  number  of  the  poor  sup- 
ported at  public  expense,  has  much  diminished,  while  our  population 
has  very  considerably  increased. 

The  population  of  the  Parish  40  years  ago  was  aboat  eleven  hun- 
dred, nor  did  it  essentially  vary  for  nearly- tliirty  years.  An  increase 
was  manifest  about  ten  or  twelve  years  since,  and  our  census  in  1837 
gave  us  1540,  being  an  increase  of  more  than  400.  This  is  princi- 
pally occasioned  by  the  change  and  increase  of  business,  which  has 
retained  an)ongst  us  our  young  and  enterprising  n)en,  while  it  ha& 
drawn  in  others  from  different  parts  of  the  country.  The  moral  cha- 
racter of  the  increase  of  our  population  is  generally  good,  owing  in 

*  Note  B. 


410  small  measure  to  the  course  pursued  and  the  influence  exerted  by 
men  who  liave  had  the  principal  control  of  business  concerns.  This 
has  been  done  by  giving  preference  to  persons  of  steady  and  indus- 
trious habits  and  correct  principles,  and  by  making  sacrifices  for  the 
safety  of  public  morals.  Influential  men  who  are  much  in  the  way 
of  business  and  come  in  contact  with  multitudes  by  having  them  in 
their  employment,  can  do  much  to  restrain  the  evilly  disposed,  to  pro- 
mote good  habits  and  to  bring  in  and  raise  up  diligent  and  virtuous 
men.  In  this  way,  where  there  are  other  concurring  influences, 
there  may  be  formed  a  society,  while  pleasant,  and  happy,  and  re- 
spectable, of  great  moral  strength  and  efficiency.  In  order  for  such 
a  happy  effect,  leading  and  enterprising  men  must  stand  on  the  Lord's 
side  and  cherish  a  public  spirit,  which  is  willing  to  make  sacrifices 
for  the  common  good.  And  the  want  of  this  spirit  in  the  leading 
men  of  some  places  I  could  name,  is  one  principal  reason  why  such 
a  very  corrupt  and  bad  state  of  society  is  found  in  their  vei-y  heart- 
rotten  at  the  core.  Good  men  of  enterprise  and  successful  busines?? 
in  a  place  can  do  very  much  toward  keeping  bad  men  and  bad  things 
out  from  their  bosom;  and  unprincipled  men  can  do  as  much  to 
bring  them  in,  and  throw  the  influence  and  the  management  of  con- 
cerns into  their  hands,  where  it  never  ought  to  be.  It  is  matter  of 
sincere  congratulation  that  this  religious  society  has  so  much  improv- 
ed both  in  point  of  morals,  and  social  feelings  and  intercourse,  no 
less  than  in  intelligence  and  religious  principle. 

For  many  years  the  subject  of  erecting  a  new  house  of  worship  was 
occasionally  agitated.  The  principal  reason  why  the  question  was  not 
settled  and  a  house  built  long  before  it  was,  is  thought  to  have  been  an 
expectation  that  it  would  be  erected  on  a  different  and  more  central 
spot.  A  portion  of  the  Parish  had  always  been  dissatisfied  with  the 
location,  even  before  the  frame  was  covered,  and  but  few  in  the  north 
section  of  the  town  which  was  last  settled,  either  owned  or  could 
purchase  a  pew  for  their  families.  These  facts  induced  tJiiii  portion 
of  the  people  to  press  the  subject  for  decision,  which  took  place  in 
1822,  and  in  1823  this  building  was  erected,  and  on  the  first  day  of 
January,  1824,  was  publicly  dedicated  to  God,  the  Father,  Son  and 
Holy  Ghost.*  Three  twentieths  of  the  property  in  the  Parish  with- 
drew in  consequence  of  this  movement;  though  contrary  to  their  ex- 
pectations, it  cost  no  man  a  cent,  unless  he  was  pleased   to   purchase 


«  10 

a  seat.  This  enterprise  was  conducted  with  as  much  union  and  good 
feeling  as  could  be  reasonably  expected,  considering  how  difticult  it 
is  to  reconcile  interfering  interests  and  jarring  opinions,  shaped  and 
confirmed  by  these  very  interests.  No  step  ever  did  more  to  promote 
the  prosperity  of  this  religious  society  than  the  erection  of  this  Sanc- 
tuary. The  moment  this  house  was  completed  and  the  pews  sold, 
the  real  estate  in  the  society  advanced  ten,  if  not  twenty,  per  cent. 
The  town  had  now  an  acknowledged  and  permanent  centre,  around 
which  new  settlers  would  cluster.  And  probably  no  friend  of  reli- 
gious order  now  laments  the  erection  of  this  house.  Some  may  think 
that  the  rise  of  another  house  of  worship  for  a  different  denomination 
from  the  ashes  of  the  old  temple  is  matter  of  regret.  But  not  at  all. 
The  matter  of  regret  is,  that  those  men,  and  especially,  those  men  of 
property,  who  were  forward  in  this  enterprise,  and  professed  attach- 
ment to  the  spot  and  the  denomination,  should  suffer  the  sincerity  of 
their  professions  to  be  questioned,  and  let  their  zeal  die  so  soon,  and 
their  fire  all  go  out  in  smoke.  Our  regret  is,  that  they  forsake  the 
assembling  of  themselves  together  for  the  worship  of  God,  and  with- 
hold their  pecuniary  aid,  so  much  needed  for  the  support  of  the  gos- 
pel. How  easily  could  they  sustain  a  Christian  teacher,  and  how 
well  might  they  fill  that  place  of  worship,  without  drawing  a  single 
individual  from  other  assemblies,  while  they  would  profit  their  own 
souls,  bless  their  families,  and  do  good  to  the  world,  by  combining 
their  strength  and  pursuing  judicious  measures  1* 

With  a  new  house  of  worship  and  a  more  numerous  population  we 
have  an  increased  worshipping  assembly.  The  population  of  the 
town  has  increased  a  little  more  than  one  fourth  in  the  course  often 
or -twelve  years,  and  our  worshipping  assembly  has  increased  one 
third  in  the  same  period.  Our  largest  assemblies  in  our  former  place 
of  worship,  numbered  400  ;  our  largest  now,  exceed  600.  When 
we  were  rearing  this  House  of  God,  some  objected  to  its  dimensions 
as  exceeding  the  demand  of  our  population.  But  we  have  found  the 
place  too  strait  for  us — we  need  more  room — many  cannot  hire  or 
purchase  seats  as  they  need  for  their  families.  If  we  had  given  the 
house  a  greater  extension  of  ten  feet  m  length  and  ten  in  breadth, 
we  should  have  been  better  aecommodated,  and  saved  ourselves,  or 
our  children,  some  trouble  and  expense. 

But  notwithstanding  our  congregation  in  favorable  weather  is  large. 


11 

and  has  so  much  increased,  still  it  is  not  what  it  might  be,  nor  what 
St  should  be,  with  our  population  and  opportunities.  When  preach- 
ing was  sustained  a  few  years  ago,  in  the  other  house  of  worship  and 
about  100  convened  there,  this  assembly  was  not  perceptibly  dimin- 
ished, and  probably  not  ten  who  worship  with  us  usually  went  te 
make  up  that  assembly.  Where  then  are  the  people  on  the  Sabbath 
who  constituted  that  meeting  ?  do  they  attend  worship  out  of  town  f 
It  is  to  be  feared  that  they  are  not  generally  found  in  any  religious 
meeting.  And  were  these  the  only  people  who  needlessly  absent 
themselves  from  religious  worship  on  the  Sabbath,  it  would  be  mat- 
ter of  rejoicing.  There  are  more  than  1500  souls  in  town.  Suppos- 
ing 50  of  them  attend  ihe  Baptist  meeting  in  Brookfield,  which  is 
probably  too  large  an  estimate  ;  and,  to  make  the  very  best  of  the 
case,  there  would  remain  900,  who  on  every  pleasant  Sabbath,  mfeet 
no  where.  I  am  not  insensible  that  young  children,  and  the  aged 
and  infirm,  the  feeble  and  the  sick,  and  those  who  nurse  them,  will 
constitute  a  large  number  who  cannot  congregate  for  divine  worship 
— this  number  is  probably  not  less  than  400.  After  all,  there  remain 
500  unaccounted  for,  enough  to  constitute  as  large  an  assembly  as 
we  generally  find  in  the  country.  This  fact  I  state,  not  for  the  pur- 
pose of  censure  or  reproach — nothing  of  the  kind.  The  considera- 
tion is  a  very  mournful  one.  What  will  become  of  people  who  thus 
neglect  the  great  salvation  of  the  gospel?  It  is  a  serious  question, 
in  view  of  an  undeniable  and  distressing  fact. 

In  order  to  see  what  could  be  done  to  get  those  out  to  attend  public 
worship,  who  were  able,  but  not  inclined,  a  few  years  since,  I  went  into 
different  parts  of  the  town  to  ascertain  who  and  what  proportion  of  the 
people  generally  convened  on  the  Sabbath, — what  proportion  were  un- 
ahh  to  attend  on  account  of  age,  sickness,  or  infirmity,  and  what  pro- 
portion were  able  to  go  and  totnt  not.  The  number  of  the  class  last 
mentioned,  was  ascertained  to  be  several  hundreds.  And  one  fact 
which  I  once  stated,  I  would  here  repeat,  namely,  that  within  the  lim- 
its of  this  town  there  were  more  than  90  men,  heads  of  families,  who, 
so  far  as  could  be  ascertained,  habitually  neglected  the  public  worship 
of  God  on  the  Sabbath,  while  they  were  able  to  attend  any  other 
meeting  at  an  equal  distance.  It  is  believed  the  number  has  not  di- 
minished. This  is  a  most  astounding  fact,  and  may  raise  the  ques- 
tion, "  What  will  they  do  in  the  end  of  these  things?"  and  another 
question  still  :  Have  not  Christians,  the  friends  of  God  and  man,  of 
the  Church  and  their  country,  something  more   to  do  to   bring  these 


12 

people  under  tlic  sound  of  the  gospel  ?  Suy  not  th;it  I  am  reproach- 
ing men  ;  it  is  not  reproach  that  I  deal  in  ;  I  am  stating  a  solemn  and 
painful  fact — a  fact  deeply  affecting  to  every  feeling  mind  that  credits 
the  word  of  God,  and  considers  the  office  and  indispensable  impor- 
tance of  religious  institutions,  both  in  reference  to  the  final  condition 
of  the  undying  soul  and  the  present  state  of  society.  While  there 
has  been  an  increase  of  our  religious  assembly  on  the  Sabbath,  there 
has  also  been  an  increase,  especially  among  heads  of  families,  of 
those  who  forsake  the  House  of  God,  which  would  not  continue,  and 
could  not,  were  they  but  to  take  the  matter  under  serious  considera- 
tion and  view  it  in  the  light  in  which  God  has  kindly  thrown  it  before 
their  minds. 

At  the  time  of  my  settlement,  the  laws  of  the  Commonwealth 
obliged  every  man  to  pay  his  proportion  for  the  support  of  a  preached 
gospel.  This  was  required  by  our  statutes  upon  the  principle,  that 
the  preached  gospel  is  necessary  to  the  well-being  of  society, — to  aid 
the  magistrate  in  keeping  the  peace, — to  restrain  men  from  crime, — 
to  promote  virtue  and  give  greater  security  to  the  persons  and  pro- 
perty and  rights  of  every  peaceable  citizen  ; — the  laws  required  every 
man  to  contribute  his  share  in  support  of  the  public  worship  of  God, 
upon  the  same  principle  that  he  is  required  to  contribute  his  share  in 
support  of  civil  government,  and  that  is,  it  is  a  common  hcncjit.  And 
indeed,  every  considerate  person  who  has  looked  at  the  subject,  per- 
ceives that  the  community,  aside  from  all  spiritual  advantages,  needs 
the  civilizing,  restraining  and  moral  influence  of  a  preached  gospel, 
and  the  public  worship  of  God.  And  if  it  be  a  common  benefit,  it 
would  be  perfectly  equitable  to  support  public  worship  at  the  common 
expense,  securing  to  every  individual  the  full  enjoyment  of  the  right 
of  conscience.  But  what  would  be  equitable  to  require  of  others, 
may  not  always  be  expedient.  And  if  a  preached  gospel  be  a  com- 
mon benefit  in  the  community,  aside  from  its  saving  effects  on  those 
who  hear  with  faith,  th'cn  the  plea  that  some,  who  neglect  public 
worship,  have  made  for  such  neglect,  viz.,  that  as  they  pay  no  where, 
they  will  not  steal  their  preaching,  is  of  no  use  ;  for  whether  they 
attend  or  not,  they  are  reaping  from  it,  in  common  with  others,  those 
important  benefits  which  our  statutes  contemplated,  when  they  re- 
quired every  man  to  contribute  his  share.  For  who  does  not  know 
that  the  restraining  and  moral  influence  of  a  preached  gospel  on  the 
depraved  passions  of  men,  contributes  to  his  personal  security,  com- 
fort and  prosperity,  to   the  intellectual   improvement   of  the  young, 


13 

and  the  forming  of  steady  and  virtuous  habits  ?  What  would  society 
soon  become  without  it?  So  that  whatever  course  an  individual 
takes  respecting  public  religious  instruction  where  he  lives  ;  still, 
though  he  does  not  receive  all,  yet  he  cannot  fail  of  enjoying  many 
of  its  benefits  at  the  expense  of  others,  if  not  at  his  own.  He  can- 
not avoid  catching  some  of  the  temporal  blessings  of  a  preached 
gospel ;  they  will  come  pouring  down  upon  him,  unless  he  escape  from 
among  the  people  who  sustain  it.  If  he  will  not  share  in  the  expense, 
still  he  will  participate  in  the  profits,  whether  he  call  it  stealing  or 
receiving  in  charity.  My  only  wish  is,  if  they  are  indisposed  to  sup- 
port the  gospel,  that  they  would  be  willing  to  accept  the  richest  bless- 
ings the  gospel  can  impart — the  choicest  hopes  it  can  inspire. 

Since  all  were  obliged  to  do  their  proportion  in  support  of  the  gos- 
pel, and  must  do  it  where  they  resided,  unless  they  were  connected 
with  some  incorporated  religious  society  abroad  of  a  different  deno- 
mination, almost  all  the  families  within  the  limits  of  this  town  be- 
longed to  this  religious  society.  A  very  few  of  the  Baptist  denomi- 
nation belonged  to  the  incorporated  society  in  Brookfield,  and  they 
were  obliged  to  maintain  regular  preaching  for  six  months  in  a  year. 
No  society  could  then  exist  without  public  religious  instruction  one 
half  the  time,  or  pay  a  heavy  fine.  So  important  did  our  laws  consi- 
der the  preached  gospel  to  the  existence  and  welfare  of  civil  society 
— they  viewed  it  as  intimately  connected  with  civilization,  improve- 
ment of  intellect,  preservation  of  peace  and  order  and  general  thrift, 
the  prevention  of  crime,  the  promotion  of  virtue,  the  preservation  of 
our  liberties  and  the  universal  welfare  of  society.  So  that  every  man 
in  the  North  Parish  of  Brookfield  paid  his  mite  in  support  of  the 
gospel  in  his  own  form,  if  he  could  find  such  form  as  suited  hira, 
and  if  not,  in  the  form  existing  in  the  place  of  his  residence  :  but  in 
some  form  or  other,  he  must  do  his  part,  just  as  he  now  does  in  the 
concern  of  education,  even  though  he  have  no  children  of  his  own, 
and  care  not  for  the  education  of  others.* 

This  state  of  things  prepared  the  way  for  a  civil  action  to  be  com- 
menced against  the  Parish,  by  a  man  named  Turner,  who  preached 
universal  salvation  in  this  vicinity,  and  on  whose  instructions  several 
men  in  the  Parisli  occasionally  attended.  He  sued  for  what  these 
men  paid  toward  my  salary.  In  order  to  establish  his  claim  and  sus- 
tain the  action,  it  became  necessary  for  him  to  prove  that  he  was  duly 


14 

autlioiized  to  preach  the  gospel  and  be  a  teacher  of  morality  and  re- 
ligion. For  this  purpose  he  produced  a  paper,  showing  that  on  a 
certain  time,  certain  men  commissioned  him  to  preach  salvation  to 
the  "  whole  race  of  Adam."  He  failed  of  sustaining  his  action, 
though  he  was  thought  to  have  a  sweeping  commission  and  a  very 
large  parish.  How  little  confidence  he  had  in  his  commission,  may 
be  learned  from  the  fact  that  more  than  twenty  years  after,  he  was 
baptized  in  Charlton  and  ordained  over  the  Unitarian  Society  by  a 
Council  composed  of  Unitarian  and  Universalist  ministers  ;  and  as 
he  afterwards  published,  '  without  giving  up  any  of  his  former  opin- 
ions.' 

I  have  mentioned  these  things,  not  to  show  what  plan  of  support- 
ing the  gospel  is  the  best ;  but  to  show  the  difference  between  former 
times  and  the  present.  In  1811  a  new  law  was  passed  respecting  the 
-support  of  public  worship,  so  that  any  number  of  men  exceeding  five 
-could  unite  and  appoint  a  clerk,  and  by  going  through  certain  forms, 
become  a  religious  society  and  be  free  from  obligation  to  all  others. 
A  few  years  since,  that  article  in  the  bill  of  rights,  which  recognized 
the  obligation  of  all  the  citizens  of  the  State  to  support  public  reli- 
gious worship  in  some  form,  was  expunged,  and  any  one  may  now 
€xcuse  himself  from  doing  any  thing  toward  the  support  of  the  gos- 
pel in  any  place,  or  in  any  form.  Those  who  now  wish  the  preach- 
ed gospel  to  be  sustained  for  their  own  benefit,  or  that  of  their  fami- 
lies, or  their  neighbors,  or  their  country,  because  they  think  that  soon 
-our  liberties  and  prosperity  and  hopes  of  a  better  life  will  all  be  gone 
without  it ;  they  are  the  ones,  and  they  only,  to  support  it.  Profes- 
sors of  religion  indeed,  are  every  where  expected  to  defray  their  share 
of  the  expense,  whoever  else  may  be  excused ;  for  the  obligation  they 
have  recognized,  and  a  virtual  engagement  to  that  amount  they  en- 
tered into,  when  they  professed  faith  in  Christ,  and  united  in  cove- 
nant with  God's  people.  So  that  all  the  ehurch  will  always  unite 
their  strength  to  support  the  ordinances  of  the  gospel,  and  none  wish 
to  excuse  themselves  from  their  proper  share  of  the  burden.* 

What  proportion  of  the  property  in  the  town  is  now  held  for  the 
support  of  the  gospel,  I  am  unable  to  say.  In  1835  the  property  that 
supported  the  gospel  in  this  society  was  valued  at  8218,266,66,  con- 
stituting perhaps  two  thirds  of  all  the  property  in  town,  as  usually 
valued.     What  portion  of  the  remaining  $109,000  as  we  may  call  it, 

*  Note  F. 


15 

does  little  or  nothing  for  tlie  support  of  the  worsliip  of  God  in  any 
place,  I  have  not  the  means  of  ascertaiaing.  For  the  welfare  of  the 
owners  thereof  and  the  good  of  the  community,  I  could  wish,  that 
not  a  cent  of  it  was  exempted  by  the  consent  of  the  proprietors.  But 
I  fear  that  a  very  large  share  of  it,  and  that  share  which  above  every 
other  is  the  best  able  to  bear  it,  rs,  by  the  sincere  and  most  cordial 
desire  of  the  owners,  wholly  exempted.  Not  that  loe  need  their  aid ; 
no,  but  they  need  the  blessing — their  families  need  it — their  neigh- 
bors and  their  section  of  the  community  need  it.  '  Bring  ye  all  the 
tithes  into  the  store  house,  and  prove  me  now  herewith,  saith  the 
Lord,  and  see  if  I  will  not  pour  you  out  a  blessing,  that  there  shall 
not  be  room  enough  to  receive  it.'  Let  the  gospel  go  down  and  un- 
numbered blessings  go  with  it.  O  that  all  the  people  knew  what  a 
privilege  they  have  in  the  gospel,  and  how  much  they  are  indebted 
to  it  for  what  they  enjoy  as  citizens,  as  freemen,  and  as  social  and 
intellectual  beings.  When  we  become  what  we  should  be  and  what 
we  must  be,  in  the  best  state  to-which  men  can  arrive  in  this  imper- 
fect and  dying  world,  all  will  cheerfully  sustain  the  pure  gospel  of 
Christ  by  their  influence  and  their  substance,  and  resort  with  their 
families  to  the  house  of  God  and  enjoy  with  united  hearts  and  im- 
mortal hopes,  all  the  rich  institutions  of  divine  grace.  That  portion 
of  their  substance  required  for  the  support  of  divine  institutions  and 
the  promotion  of  Christ's  kingdom  and  men's  salvation,  will  be  of 
all  others,  the  most  freely  given  and  the  last  to  be  withheld. 

IL  Having  given  you  the  history  of  this  religious  Society,  I  will 
now  give  you  a  brief  history  of  the  Church  of  Christ.  At  the  time 
of  my  ordination  the  church  consisted  of  80  members,  most  of  them 
in  the  decline  of  life  ;  I  find  but  two  who  were  not  more  than  40 
years  of  age — and  not  a  single  youth — the  youngest  was  thirty-two 
and  in  married  life.  As  it  might  have  been  expected,  no  small  por- 
tion of  them  soon  died,  and  the  male  members  were  in  a  few  years 
reduced  to  a  very  small  number.  I  have  ascertained  that  twenty-five 
acted  in  giving  me  an  invitation  to  become  their  Pastor,  two  of  whom 
expressed  a  desire  to  hear  further.  In  the  Parish  79  expressed  a  de- 
sire by  vole,  that  I  should  settle  with  them,  and  15  voted  in  oppo- 
sition. 

Considering  the  small  number  embraced  in  the  church,  and  the 
declining  age  of  many,  some  people  expressed  a  fear  lest  the  church 
should  dwindle  to  nothing ;  and  one  gentleman  in  the  vicinity  gravely 


16 

advised  me  to  introduce  what  was  then  cnWeA,  "  the  Jiolf-wai/ covf' 
nanf,"  i.  e.  (for  it  now  needs  explanation,)  let  baptized  parents  of 
good  morals,  thougli  destitute  of  piety,  or  pretensions  to  experimental 
religion,  dedicate  their  children  to  God  in  baptism,  and  still  not  com- 
memorate the  dying  love  of  Christ,  because  they  think  themselves 
unqualified  for  this  ordinance.  It  amounts  to  this,  either  that  they 
believe  they  have  no  piety,  or  else  that  something  more  than  credible 
evidence  of  piety,  is  necessary  to  come  to  the  Lord's  table.  But  this 
scheme  was  never  adopted  by  this  church,  and  though  practiced  in 
many  places  in  the  vicinity,  it  is  now  wholly  exploded  as  unscriptural 
and  pernicious.  To  build  up  a  church  by  such  means  and  with  such 
materials,  is  one  of  the  last  things  a  Pastor  should  consent  to  do.  It 
is  very  easy  to  have  a  church  larger  than  the  state  of  religion  in  a 
place  will  justify  ;  but  neve?-  desirable.  The  only  way  in  which  a 
church  can  be  consistently  enlarged,  is  by  the  revival  of  God's  work 
among  a  people,  or  the  removal  of  Christians  from  other  churches. 
To  adopt  any  human  expedient  to  enlarge  a  church  without  the  con- 
version of  sinners  and  the  increase  of  pious  men,  is  an  unholy  and 
presumptuous  step.  We  might  as  well  think  to  enlarge  and  strengthen 
a  man  that  becomes  feeble  and  emaciated,  by  binding  to  his  body 
masses  of  dead  flesh,  which  in  fact  would  only  increase  his  size  and 
weight,  but  render  his  condition  the  more  wretched,  and  death  the 
more  certain  and  near.  A  huge  mass  of  a  church  without  vitality — 
a  gigantic  body  without  a  soul,  reminds  us  of  one  of  Solomon's  say- 
ings "  A  living  dog  is  better  than  a  dead  lion." 

I  am  informed  that  in  the  early  period  of  this  church,  the  only 
qualifications  required  were  a  fair  moral  character  and  maintaining 
religious  order  in  the  family^  without  any  other  evidence  of  being 
born  of  God.  This  well  corresponds  with  the  records,  where,  under 
the  ministry  of  the  first  Pastor,  but  exceedingly  few  united  with  the 
church  in  single  life,  and  when  one  of  a  married  pair  made  a  profes- 
sion of  religion,  both  did  the  same.*  But  whatever  the  principle  of 
admission,  the  church  was  never  large  :  yet  perhaps  as  large  as  cir- 
cumstances would  at  any  ime  justify.  A  few  have  been  excluded  in 
a  regular  course  of  discipline  ;  yet  I  am  persuaded,  not  so  many  as 
the  honor  of  religion  and  a  healthy  state  of  the  church  and  the  spirit- 
ual good  of  individuals  imperiously  demanded. 

But  iew  of  the  second  church  in   Brookfield  remain,  who  wer« 

*  Note  G. 


17 

members  at  my  ordination.  All  the  male  members  were  gone,  when 
four  years  since  we  housed  in  the  grave  the  remains  of  the  Hon. 
Thomas  Hale,  aged  90 ;  and  but  two  females  survive,  known  as 
members  of  the  church  at  my  settlement,  one  only  able  to  congregate 
with  us  on  the  Sabbath.* 

Verily  we  may  say,  '  Except  the  Lord  had  left  us  a  seed  we  should 
have  been  as  Sodom,  and  been  made  like  unto  Gomorrah,'  with 
scarcely  a  righteous  man  among  us.  Ever  since  1808  the  church 
has  been  increasing.  Besides  small  additions  by  letter,  and  one  after 
another  falling  into  the  ranks  of  God's  people  from  those  of  the  world, 
the  church  has  been  replenished  and  enlarged  at  several  different 
times  by  seasons  of  special  revival.  More  than  90  years  since,  when 
the  whole  of  Brookfield  worshipped  in  one  house,  on  what  is  com- 
monly called  Foster's  Hill,  Rev.  George  Whitefield  passed  through 
the  country,  and,  not  being  allowed  to  occupy  the  Meeting  House, 
because  by  some  he  was  considered  irregular,  made  a  large  rock  in 
the  field  his  desk,  and  there  preached  Christ  and  his  salvation  to  the 
many  who  thronged  to  hear  him.  Though  attended  with  more  ani- 
mal excitement  than  was  desirable,  his  preaching  was  instrumental  of 
much  good  in  converting  men  to  God,  and  staying  the  wicked  in 
their  course.  There  was  much  chaff  mixed  with  the  wheat.  The 
irregularities  in  some  who  took  part  in  this  work,  and  the  great  ex- 
citement of  the  animal  passions  which  was  in  some  instances  very, 
evident,  served  to  prejudice  the  minds  of  some  Christian  people 
against  what  were  called  at  that  day,  religious  mcaJcenings.  They 
failed  to  discriminate  between  what  was  animal,  and  what  was  spirit- 
ual, scriptural,  and  rational.  From  that  time  to  1817,  being  about 
75  years,  there  w^as  no  extensive  religious  movement  upon  the  minds 
of  the  people  by  the  Spirit  of  God.  The  first  revival  of  religion  with 
which  God  ever  blessed  this  people  commenced  in  the  autumn  of 
1816  ;  this  was  followed  by  another  two  years  after,  which  resulted 
in  the  addition  of  more  than  eighty  to  God's  professed  people,  some 
of  whom  continue  among  the  most  active  and  substantial  members  of 
this  church.  But  I  was  surprised  when  examining  the  records,  to  see 
what  a  large  portion  of  those  80,  who  united  in  1817  and  1819,  and 
mostly  young  people,  are  .now  no  more  either  amongst  us,  or  amongst 
the  living.  Time  and  death  have  scattered  them  abroad,  or  housed 
them  in  the  tomb  ;  so  that  we  may  almost  say  again,  "  Had  not  the 
Lord  left  us  a  seed,  we  should  have  been  as  Sodom." 


18 

In  1827,  God  in  his  great  mercy  favored  us  with  another  refresh- 
ing season  of  divine  influence,  which  occasioned  a  new  addition  to 
the  church  of  twenty-seven,  which  served  to  repair  the  nine  years' 
desolations  by  death  and  removal  to  other  sections  of  the  land.  The 
year  1831  is  memorable  in  the  annals  of  this  church,  and  glorious  in 
the  eyes  of  God's  people.  It  is  distinguished  above  all  others  in  my 
ministry,  for  movements  and  changes,  storms  and  calms,  sudden  and 
unexpected,  painful  and  pleasant.  It  was  a  year  of  the  right  hand  of 
the  Most  High,  in  which  he  rejoiced  the  hearts  of  his  people  and 
honored  both  his  power  and  his  grace,  when  so  many  were  led  willing 
captives  by  Christ.  This  revival,  which  took  place  in  the  most  busy 
season  of  the  year,  made  great  encroachments  upon  the  kingdom  of 
sin  and  brought  about  sixty  souls  into  the  fold  of  the  Great  Shepherd. 
God,  rich  in  mercy,  did  not  satisfy  the  desires  of  his  compassionate 
heart  with  this  display  of  his  grace  ;  but  in  1837  repeated  his  kind 
visitation  and  honored  both  the  cross  of  his  Son  and  the  power  of 
his  Spirit  in  subduing  many  hearts  to  his  sceptre.  More  than  seven- 
ty have  expressed  a  hope  that  they  have  become  the  children  of  God, 
and  about  fifty  have  professed  their  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  and  entered 
into  covenant  with  God  and  his  people. 

The  whole  number  that  have  been  admitted  into  the  church  durinor 
my  ministry  is  348.  Fifty-eight  by  letters  of  recommendation  from 
other  churches,  and  290  by  profession ;  while  fifty-five  have  been  dis- 
missed to  other  churches,  127  deceased,  and  four  excluded.  There 
now  remain  members  of  this  church,  resident  and  nrfn-resident,  242. 
There  have  been  485  baptisms.  The  ministry  of  Rev.  Messrs. 
Forbes  and  Appleton  with  the  intervals  in  which  the  church  had  no 
Pastor,  extended  from  1752  to  1798,  forty-six  years.  When  the 
church  was  embodied,  if  I  rightly  understand  the  records,  there  were 
58  members, — 26  males  and  32  females;  182  were  added  during  the 
ministry  of  Mr.  Forbes  ;  47  during  that  of  Mr.  Appleton,  and  seven 
during  the  time  of  your  destitution.  So  that  236  were  added  from 
the  time  the  church  was  first  embodied  to  that  of  my  ordination,  when 
the  church  consisted  of  80  members ;  all  the  rest,  being  214,  had  re- 
moved to  other  places,  or  gone  to  their  beds  of  dust,  or  been  exclud- 
ed from  the  church.  Through  the  abounding  grace  of  God  toward 
us,  this  church  now  embraces  three  times  the  number  it  did  at  my  or- 
dination, and  many  of  them  in  their  youth,  and  more  than  one  half 
in  younger  life. 

The  revival  seasons  with  which  God  has  blessed  us  and  made  our 


19 

hearts  glad,  have  been  such  as  to  constrain  all  but  sceptics  to  say 
with  the  Magicians  of  Egypt  on  witnessing  one  of  the  miracles  of 
Moses  which  they  could  not  imitate,  "  This  is  the  Jingcr  of  God." 
The  revival  in  1817  commenced  when  nobody  was  looking  for  it,  as 
far  as  known,  and  neither  Pastor  nor  church  was  doing  any  thing 
more  than  they  were  always  doing,  and  when  there  was  no  special 
attention  to  religion  in  the  surrounding  region,  and  when  in  all  the 
region  there  had  not  been  a  general  revival  of  religion  for  at  least 
60  or  70  years,  and  when  too,  thej-e  had  never  been  such  a  thing  in 
the  place  before.  It  began  in  the  hopeful  conversion  of  one  of  the 
rudest  young  women  in  town,  to  whom,  as  far  as  I  know,  nothing 
had  been  said  upon  her  soul's  concerns,  any  more  than  to  every  body 
else.  If  any  one  can  explain  this,  without  admitting  that  the  gracious 
power  of  God  can,  and  docs  impress  the  mind  and  renew  the  heart 
he  pleases,  he  can  do  more  than  ever  yet  has  been  done ;  and  if  he 
will  ascribe  such  a  revolution  in  religious  views  and  moral  feelings 
and  chosen  objects  of  pursuit,  to  mere  human  management  or  influ- 
ence, what  is  there  that  he  may  not  ascribe  to  the  same  cause?  This 
revival  was  marked  with  great  stillness  and  a  gradual  extension,  more 
especially,  in  the  east  half  of  the  town. 

The  revival  in  1819  was  more  sudden  in  its  rise,  more  rapid  in  its 
progress,  and  sooner  on  the  decline,  and  more  in  the  west  part  of 
the  town.  It  had  a  much  greater  mixture  of  animal  passions,  and 
much  more  connection  with  human  sympathies  and  agency  both  in 
its  rise  and  progress.  This  happened  when  revivals  were  multiplied 
around  us  and  sinners  flocked  to  Christ  as  doves  to  their  windows. 
Very  many  were  awakened  to  most  solemn  concern  and  brought  un- 
der deep  conviction  of  sin,  and  some  even  to  a  hope  in  Christ,  who 
turned  back  as  the  dog  to  his  vomit.  But  there  were  some  very  pre- 
cious fruits  of  that  affecting  season,  which,  to  this  day,  prove  that 
when  God  comes  to  build  up  Zion  he  appears  in  his  glory.  No  per- 
son who  took  knowledge  of  the  changes  and  events  of  that  day  and 
the  permanent  fruits  of  that  work,  can  doubt  for  a  moment  whether 
the  agency  of  God's  Spirit,  who  teaches  as  no  other  can  teach,  was 
concerned  in  it. 

The  work  of  divine  grace  in  18^1,  was  marked  somewhat  diffe- 
rently still.  It  was  the  result  of  no  human  device  or  effort.  Though 
Christians  prayed  for  it,  and  the  Pastor  preached  for  it,  as  usual  : 
yet  it  came  when  no  one  was  expecting  it  more  than  at  another  time. 
The  first  symptom  that  God  was  about  to  enlarge  his  heritage  and 


20 

refresh  it,  was  the  call  of  a  thoughtless  young  man  upon  the  Pastor, 
with  the  apology  that  he  was  not  very  well  and  wished  to  rest.  It 
was  the  first  time  he  ever  had  entered  my  door,  I  conjectured  that 
his  disease  was  that  of  the  mind.  A  few  words  showed  that  my  con- 
jecture was  correct.  This  was  the  first  token  that  God's  gracious 
presence  was  among  us — the  little  cloud  like  a  man's  hand,  which 
gave  forth  the  sound  of  an  abundance  of  rain.  One  deeply  convicted, 
subdued  sinner,  kindles  up  the  hope  that  soon  we  may  witness  the 
great  rain  of  God's  strength.  However  great  and  joyful  that  season 
was,  God  made  a  short  work  of  it,  a  work  however,  which  will  tell 
upon  the  eternal  destiny  of  many  souls  and  families  in  this  place. 

The  other  season  of  refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord 
which  we  witnessed  the  last  year,  seemed  more  connected  in  its  com- 
mencement with  human  agency  and  the  efforts  of  the  church,  than 
any  former  revival.  Still  such  was  its  progress  as  to  show  "  that  it 
is  not  of  him  that  willeth  nor  of  him  that  runneth,  but  of  God  that 
showeth  mercy."  One  was  taken  and  another  left.  Some  upon 
whom  much  labor  was  bestowed  remain  in  sin  to  this  hour :  while 
others  to  whom  nothing  in  particular  was  addressed,  were  brought 
under  solemn  impressions  and  pursued  by  the  Spirit  of  God  in  all 
their  retreats,  till  they  were  laid  with  a  subdued  spirit  at  the  feet  of 
Christ.  He  took  the  work  out  of  men's  hands  to  show  that  it  was 
his  own  work  ;  while  he  honored  his  institutions  and  answered  the 
prayers  of  his  people.  This  season  of  revival,  this  cloud  of  spiritual 
blessings  which  has  just  passed,  and  upon  which  you  still  see  the 
bright  bow  of  promise,  is  the  more  remarkable,  since  it  is  such  an 
isolated  case — no  other  instance  in  the  region.  God  raineth  on  one 
city  and  raineth  not  on  another,  and  the  city  on  which  there  is  no 
rain  withereth.  This  is  equally  true  in  all  its  parts,  both  in  a  natural 
and  spiritual  sense.  There  is  ever  encouragement  for  good  men  to 
pray  and  to  put  forth  efforts  for  the  progress  of  the  church  and  the 
conversion  of  sinners,  and  also  for  ministers  of  the  gospel  to  preach 
and  labor  in  their  work,  both  in  season  and  out  of  season ;  still  the 
more  this  is  done  with  a  deep  sense  that  God  alone  can  give  the  in- 
crease, and  the  more  disposed  men  are  to  give  all  the  glory  to  his 
name,  the  more  cheering  the  prospect  of  success.* 

For  40  years  past,  this  church  has  enjoyed  a  good  degree  of  peace 
and  union.     They  have  generally  moved   in  concert  and  have  been 


21 

very  harmonious  in  their  measures  to  promote  the  great  ends  of 
Christian  institutions.  Nor  has  there  ever  been  any  great  discrepan- 
cy of  opinion,  except  in  one  unhappy  case  of  discipline,  in  which,  by 
a  peculiar  combination  of  circumstances,  the  minds  of  many  were 
blinded,  and  the  feelings  of  most  unduly  and  unseasonably  excited. 
That  case  taught  every  man  one  important  lesson,  viz.  to  judge  no- 
thing before  the  time,  nor  without  candid  and  proper  inquiry. 

When  the  Church  was  embodied,  they  adopted  a  Covenant,  to 
which  all  who  united  with  it  gave  their  assent.  This  Covenant  im- 
plied a  general  belief  in  the  holy  scriptures,  and  an  engagement  to 
instruct  our  children  in  divine  truth  by  the  use  of  orthodox  cate- 
chisms; but  recognized  no  particular  doctrine,  except  the  being  of  a 
God  as  the  object  of  worship,  the  Bible  as  his  word,  Jesus  Christ  as 
a  Savior,  the  Church  as  his  Mystical  Body,  and  the  public  worship  of 
God,  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper,  as  divine  institutions.  In  1827 
it  was  conceived  important  both  by  this  church  and  most  others  in 
the  vicinity,  that  every  church  should  have  a  few  articles  of  faith  to 
which  all  should  give  their  assent  who  united  with  the  church,  and 
that  all  the  churches  in  the  region,  if  disposed,  should  adopt  in  sub- 
stance the  same  articles  of  faith  and  the  same  covenant.  Such  arti- 
cles and  covenant  were  prepared  by  Brookfield  Association  and  sub- 
mitted to  the  churches,  who  adopted  them,  and  this  church  as  well  as 
others.  All  who  were  already  members,  and  objected  to  the  new  co-. 
venant  and  articles,  would  stand  upon  the  Covenant  into  which  they 
entered  the  church  ;  but  none  should  in  future  be  admitted,  only  by- 
assenting  to  the  articles  and  the  covenant  recently  adopted.  Tliis 
transaction  took  place  in  May,  1837,  with  only  two  dissenting  votes. 

Much  dishonor  having  been  done  to  the  cause  of  religion  by  the 
influence  of  ardent  spirit,  ever  since  it  has  been  used  as  a  drink,  the 
church  thought  it  their  duty  to  adopt  some  measure  to  prevent  the 
evil  and  let  the  tvhole  comtnunity  know  their  views  of  the  subject, 
and  accordingly  passed  the  following  resolutions,  which  they  procur- 
ed to  be  printed  and  sent  into  every  family  in  town  : 

Resolutions. 

"  Resolved  1st.  That  intemperance,  notwithstanding  all  the  efforts 
to  check  it,  is  still  productive  of  great  and  multiplied  evils  in  the 
community — that  it  has  been  the  occasion  of  many  unhappy  cases  of 
discipline  in  the  church,  and  of  more  dishonor  to  religion   than  any 


22 

other  sin  that  can  be  named,  and  tliat  all  intemperance  is  the  growth 
and  effect  of  a  moderate  and  habitual  use  of  intoxicating  liquors. 

"  Resolved  2dly.  That  every  Christian  church  ought  to  practice  up- 
on the  principle  of  entire  abstinence  from  ardent  spirits  as  a  drink, 
and  from  foreign  wines  and  strong  beer,  as  a  substitute ;  and  that  no 
person  should  be  admitted  into  the  church  of  Christ,  and  that  no  one 
shall  hereafter  be  received  into  this  church,  but  upon  the  principle  of 
entire  abstinence  from  the  use,  the  manufacture,  and  sale  of  ardent 
spirit  as  a  drink. 

"  Resolved  3dly.  That  in  consideration  of  the  important  and  solemn 
bearings  of  the  Temperance  Reformation  upon  the  peace  and  happi- 
ness of  society,  upon  the  success  of  the  gospel  and  the  salvation  of 
the  world,  it  becomes  the  indispensable  duty  of  all  professed  Chris- 
tians to  refrain  from  impeding,  and  to  aid  in  advancing,  this  great 
work,  by  their  example,  their  personal  efforts,  and  their  whole  influ- 
ence. 

"  Resolved  4thly.  That  it  is  with  grief  we  see  any  of  our  brethren, 
■who,  neither  for  their  own  safety,  nor  for  the  benefit  of  their  families, 
nor  for  the  sake  of  a  suffering  community,  nor  yet  for  the  honor  and 
prosperity  of  religion,  can  be  persuaded  to  abstain  from  the  use  of 
ardent  spirit  as  a  drink ;  and  that  we  cannot  look  on  those  members 
who  continue  the  habitual  use  of  it,  but  as  spots  in  our  feasts  of 
charity." 

In  1817  the  church  by  special  vote  admitted  persons  who  give  sa- 
tisfactory evidence  of  piety,  but  who  are  not  yet  convinced  that  In- 
fant Baptism  is  a  duty  divinely  enjoined  upon  Christians,  and  of 
course  do  not  present  their  children  to  God  in  this  ordinance.  They 
■adopted  this  course;  not  because  they  had  the  least  doubt  that  infant 
baptism  is  a  divine  ordinance,  any  more  than  they  doubted  whether 
circumcision  was  a  divine  institution  ;  for  the  church  to  which  Abram 
belonged  is  the  same  church  to  which  Paul  belonged,  after  his  con- 
version, and  was  founded  upon  the  same  covenant  of  grace  :  and  all 
the  objections  which  lie  against  infant  baptism,  lie  equally  against  in- 
fant circumcision. — Nor  did  the  church  adopt  this  course,  because 
they  any  less  believed  that  infant  baptism  is  an  institution  very  useful 
in  the  kingdom  of  Christ  and  an  important  duty  which  parents  owe 
their  children,  thus  to  dedicate  them  to  the  Lord — a  duty  that  our 
Savior  implicitly  recognized  when  he  encouraged  believing  parents 
to  bring  their  children  to  him,  by  the  command  and  declaration, 
*  Forbid  them  not ;  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven.'     Neither 


23 

did  the  church  vote  to  admit  such  persons  as  neglected  to  present 
their  children  to  God  in  baptism,  because  they  did  not  think  that  they 
were  doing  wrong  in  this  neglect ;  but  they  adopted  this  course,  be- 
cause they  were  convinced  that  there  were  many  pious  people  who  do 
not  believe  in  infant  baptism,  as  a  divinely  required  duty,  and  who, 
though  not  to  the  best  advantage  because  of  this  one  neglected  duty, 
labor  to  train  their  children  for  God  ;  and  also,  because  this  course 
better  corresponds  with  Christian  love  and  liberality.  Without  adopt- 
ing it  under  existing  circumstances,  we  should  practice  too  much 
upon  the  principle  of  close  communion,  of  which  some  complain,  and 
perhaps,  not  without  reason.  This  is  a  principle  too  close,  too  nar- 
row, too  exclusive,  for  a  state  where  all  good  men  cannot  see  alike. 
And  when  our  churches  have  ceased  to  require  it  as  an  indispensable 
condition  of  admission,  that  parents  shall  present  their  children  in 
baptism  ;  and  when  our  Baptist  brethren  shall  allow  us  to  judge  for 
ourselves,  whether  we  have  received  Christian  baptism,  as  undoubt- 
edly they  ought ;  then  the  wall  of  partition  will  be  demolished,  and 
we  shall  be  one  church — one  people.  And  to  this  state  of  harmony 
and  Christian  fellowship  among  pious  people,  a  little  more  expansion 
of  mind  by  increased  light, — a  little  more  enlargement  of  heart  by 
Christian  love, — a  little  more  yielding  to  the  infirmities  of  the  weak,, 
will  bring  all  converted  and  unbigoted  men.  Many  ^oor/  people  need 
widening — they  are  too  narrow  both  in  their  views  and  feelings.  The 
light  and  spirit  of  the  Millenian  day  will  give  them  an  expansion  of 
heart  to  which  many  are  now  strangers,  who  are  disposed  to  cut  or 
stretch  every  man  to  the  length  of  his  own  bedstead.* 

The  Sabbath  School  in  this  place  has  been  under  the  fostering 
care  of  the  church.  About  20  years  since,  I  proposed  to  instruct 
such  youth  as  were  pleased  to  attend,  immediately  after  the  second 
service  on  the  Sabbath,  into  some  portion  of  Scripture  by  way  of 
question  and  answer.  In  this  sort  of  Bible  Class  we  had  fifteen  or 
twenty  young  people  of  both  sexes.  The  time  being  very  inconve- 
nient, and  the  service  immediately  following  the  common  labors  of 
the  Sabbath,  I  was  obliged  soon  to  relinquish  it.  In  1819  some  few 
females  in  the  church  undertook  to  gather  a  Sabbath  School  to  be 
instructed  in  the  intermission,  which  was  done  in  a  private  house  and 
in  a  room  of  common  size.  The  gentlemen,  who  are  now  the  two 
senior  deacons  of  the  church,  being  applied  to,  undertook  the  ma- 
nagement of  it.      A  few  youth   and   children  composed  it.      When 

*  Note  J. 


24 

lads  became  17  or  18  years  of  age,  they  thought  themselves  too  old 
to  be  members  of  the  school,  and  began  to  fall  off.  In  1821  the 
church  by  vote  requested  three  other  brethren  to  assist  these  two  in 
the  management  of  the  school.  From  that  time  to  the  present,  the 
church  has  appointed  the  Superintendents,  and  committees  to  advise 
and  assist  them  when  necessary.  A  few  years  since,  for  the  first  time, 
the  school  was  continued  through  the  winter,  and  the  whole  respon- 
sibility was  thrown  upon  one  individual  as  the  Superintendent,  with 
the  privilege  of  assistants  selected  by  the  church.  It  was  thought 
advisable,  two  years  since,  to  observe  monthly  a  season  of  prayer  for 
God's  blessing  upon  this  important  concern,  which  appears  to  have 
contributed  to  its  prosperity.  Thus  the  Sabbath  School  concern  has 
gone  forward  until,  of  both  sexes  and  all  ages,  more  than  four  hun- 
dreds, embracing  all  the  best  informed  and  most  respectable  families 
in  town,  are  connected  with  it,  either  as  teachers  or  scholars;  and 
from  one  Sabbath  to  another,  are  making  the  sacred  Scriptures  their 
study.  Setting  aside  all  the  spiritual  benefits  of  the  School,  which 
indeed  are  the  most  important,  it  is  worthy  the  countenance  and  pa- 
tronage of  every  well-wisher  to  society.  Its  influence  is  most  saluta- 
ry upon  the  morals,  the  intellect,  and  the  general  habits  of  the  people  ; 
while  it  furnishes  for  youth,  especially,  a  proper  employment  for  the 
leisure  hours  of  the  Sabbath,  which  might  otherwise  be  filled  up  with 
much  that  is  worse  than  useless.  To  bring  the  whole  population,  as 
far  as  circumstances  allow,  into  connection  with  this  institution,  and 
under  its  influence,  is  an  object  of  no  trifling  importance,  and  which 
will  engage  the  serious  attention  of  every  friend  of  his  country.  Ne- 
ver, no  never,  let  the  prosperity  of  this  institution  decline,  so  long 
as  zealous  effort  and  humble  prayer  will  prevent.  And  while  the 
leading  men  in  the  church  and  town  will  lend  their  constant  and  per* 
sonal  services,  there  will  be  but  little  danger.  May  the  time  never 
come,  when  such  services  shall  be  withheld  by  your  best  men.  And 
be  not  satisfied  with  the  state  of  the  school,  whenever  it  shall  fail  to 
embrace  your  most  promising  sons  who  are  to  be  the  bone  and  sinew 
and  life  of  society,  and  are  to  give  character  to  the  age  in  which  they 
live  and  act ; — nor  whenever  it  shall  fail  to  produce  its  very  best  ef- 
fects upon  the  mass  of  mind  on  which  it  operates. 

Forty  years  have  wrought  great  changes  in  ministerial  labor  and 
religious  services,  whether  for  the  better  or  the  worse,  I  leave  others 
to  judge.  All  religious  services  expected  of  a  minister  when  I  settled, 
were  two  exercises  on  the  Sabbath,  a  preparatory  lecture  once  in  two 


25 

hionths,  together  with  an  occasional  sermon  in  accommodation  to  the 
aged,  infirm  and  afflicted.  Prayer  meetings,  religious  conferences, 
meetings  for  serious  and  personal  Conversation^  stated  lectures  for 
general  instruction,  meetings  for  humane  and  charitable  objects  more 
or  less  extended,  a  third  exercise  on  the  Sabbath,  and  even  seasons 
of  general  or  special  revival  of  religion,  were  all  unknown  in  the 
place  at  the  time  of  my  ordination.  If  I  were  absent  one  or  more 
Sabbaths,  there  was  no  religious  meeting  in  the  place.  No  man 
would  consent  to  take  charge  of  a  meeting.  When  I  appointed  a 
conference  or  prayer  meeting,  but  one  of  the  church  only,  Deacon 
Benjamin  Adams,  could  ever  be  induced  to  lead  in  prayer,  until  1817.* 
Since  that  time  several  have  been  ready  to  assist  in  devotional  exer- 
cises, and  the  number  has  been  increasing,  till  more  than  30  will  now 
take  a  part  in  religious  meetings.  This  circumstance  has  served,  on 
special  occasions  particularly,  to  lighten  the  labors  of  the  Pastor,  and 
to  minister  to  the  edification  of  the  assembly.  Whoever  comes  after 
me,  as  Pastor  of  this  church,  will  find  many  to  hold  up  his  hands,  en- 
courage his  heart,  and  lighten  his  labors,  whenever  they  become  too 
heavy  for  him  to  sustain  alone.  May  the  Lord  give  you  a  Pastor 
after  his  own  heart,  who  shall  feed  you  and  your  children  with  know- 
ledge and  understanding,  and  who  for  his  work's  sake  shall  receive 
and  be  worthy  of  your  love  and  respect. 

III.  Further  to  see  the  great  things  which  God  has  done  for  us,  let 
us  take  a  view  of  the  rise  and  progress  of  Temperance. 

About  1810,  many  associations  of  men,  called  Moral  Societies, 
were  formed  in  different  parts  of  New  England,  for  the  purpose  of 
suppressing  several  prevailing  and  alarming  evils  in  the  community, 
more  especially  intemperance.  No  man  tTionglit  of  broaching  the 
principle  of  entire  abstinence  from  ardent  spirit ;  but  only  to  prevent 
intemperance  hy  drinking  less.  Some  few  in  this  region  conceived 
thai  the  progress  of  this  vice  was  alarming,  and  that  without  some 
efforts  we  should  all  become  drunkards.  I  was  fortunate  enough  to 
be  one  of  the  number.  None  can  wonder  that  I  had  a  predisposition 
to  take  the  fever,  since  in  the  early  part  of  my  ministry  rum  was  al- 
ways very  plentifully  used  on  funeral  occasions,  and  some  who  called 
themselves  mourners  were  disguised,  and  others  very  loose-jointed, 
and  at  such  places  the  rum-drinkers  in  the  neighborhood  would  ga- 
ther, and  be  the  most  forward  of  all  to  lend  their  aid  and  mingle  their 

♦  Note  K. 

4 


26 

tears  of  joy  with  those  of  sorrow  shed  in  the  afflicted  dwelling.  For 
the  first  12  years  of  my  ministry,  I  never  attended  but  one  funeral, 
but  what  ardent  spirit  was  furnished  as  an  essential  part  of  customary 
civility,  or  a  necessary  stimulant,  for  such  an  occasion  :  and  in  this 
case  it  was  a  subject  of  unfavorable  remark  and  ascribed  to  parsimo- 
ny. About  this  time,  the  first  mission  to  the  heathen  was  projected, 
and  money  was  needed  to  carry  the  project  into  execution.  For  such 
an  enterprise  the  churches  had  done  nothing.  On  the  last  Sabbath 
in  1811,  I  preached  upon  the  duty  of  Christianizing  the  heathen,  and 
at  the  close,  informed  the  assembly  that  on  the  next  Sabbath  I  would 
present  them  with  a  plan  by  which  they  could  furnish  their  part  of 
the  expense  of  such  a  work,  without  taking  a  cent  from  their  pockets, 
and  at  the  same  time  increase  their  gains  and  their  comforts  and  pros- 
perity. Having  made  inquiry  into  the  probable  expenses  of  the  town 
for  intoxicating  liquors,  though  afterwards  considered  extravagant  aiid 
erroneous ;  yet  finalhj  confirmed  as  moderate,  I  stated  the  annual  ex- 
penses of  the  town  for  this  one  thing,  to  be  85,000,  aside  from  the 
wear  and  tear,  the  sin  and  sorrow,  it  occasioned.  It  was  proposed  so 
far  to  curtail  the  use  of  ardent  spirit  as  to  save  a  proper  sum  to  be- 
stow upon  the  cause  of  foreign  missions.  The  sum  raised  was  §40. 
This  was  small  indeed,  compared  with  the  annual  expenditure  for 
spirit,  or  the  real  savings  of  the  plan  adopted  by  the  most  respectable 
portion  of  the  community.  The  plan  dispensed  with  the  use  of  dis- 
tilled spirit  at  funerals,  at  social  visits,  and  on  some  other  occasions ; 
and  what  was  said  and  done  upon  the  subject,  very  much  diminished 
the  use  of  it  in  town,  though  it  might  occasion  no  reform  in  the  great 
Haass  of  the  people.  Some  were  more  ready  to  use  less,  because  that 
upon  inquiry  their  expenses  for  intoxicating  drinks  were  great  beyond 
all  their  former  conceptions,  while  many  were  displeased  with  the  ex- 
posure of  the  sin  and  miseries  and  extent  of  intemperance. 

In  1827  several  individuals  agreed  to  use  no  ardent  spirit,  even  in 
the  most  I'aborious  seasons  of  the  year,  while  engaged  in  their  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  They  all  testified  from  experience,  that  they  had^ 
better  health  and  accomplished  their  business  with  more  comfort  and 
better  success.*  This  led  to  the  formation  of  a  Temperance  Society 
in  1828,  upon  the  principle  of  entire  abstinence  from  the  use  of  dis- 
tilled liquors,  and  fourteen  names  subscribed  to  the  constitution  the 
first  evening.  The  cause  slowly  advanced  and  new  members  were 
added,  and  various  means  used  to  give  it  extension  and  influence,  so 

*  Note  L. 


27 

thai  we  have  had  times  in  which  no  one  in  town  has  been  licensed  to 
sell  ardent  spirit.  Five  hundred  and  fifty  have  pledged  themselves 
to  a  disuse  of  distilled  spirits  and  foreign  wines  and  strong  beer,  and 
to  use  all  their  influence  judiciously  exerted  to  prevent  the  use  of 
them  by  others  ;  and  300  or  more,  are  pledged  to  abstain  from  the  ma- 
nufacture, traffic  and  use  of  all  that  can  intoxicate.  The  health  of  the 
people  is  improved  where  the  reformation  has  extended,  their  happi- 
ness and  outward  prosperity  promoted,  their  respectability  increased, 
much  mortification  prevented,  and  distress  and  woe  and  shame  and 
weeping  too  :  and  notwithstanding  all  the  mischief  that  is  still  done 
by  intoxicating  drinks  in  those  who  tcill  not  be  reclaimed,  this  town 
owes  more  to  the  temperance  reform  on  the  score  of  enjoyment,  re- 
spectability and  thrift,  than  most  are  aware  ;  and  I  presume  the  esti- 
mate was  moderate,  when  I  lately  said,  that  the  Temperance  Refor- 
mation annually  saves  to  this  town  $4,000.  And  $4,000  more  may 
be  added  to  that,  as  the  price  of  those  domestic  comforts  and  many 
blessings  which  intemperance  destroyed.  Let  efforts  continue  to  be 
made,  vigorous  and  united,  till  all  the  strong  holds  of  this  demon  be 
brought  down,  and  every  captive  be  delivered  from  his  power,  and 
know  the  pleasure  of  virtuous  freedom.  Though  there  may  long  Re- 
main a  few  abject  slaves  to  this  tyrant ;  men  who  love  bondage  and 
shame  better  than  liberty  and  honor ;  still  the  cause  will  prosper  and 
eventually  triumph,  and  your  children  will  live  to  see  it.  Yes,  I  re- 
joice to  say  it  with  confident  belief  in  its  correctness,  t/our  children 
will  live  to  see  it. 

IV.  To  lead  your  thoughts  to  another  subject  in  which  we  may  see 
what  God  has  done  for  us,  I  would  mention  the  efforts  he  has  enabled 
us  to  make  for  some  of  the  destitute  portions  of  our  race  and  the  fee- 
ble sections  of  the  church  at  home.  At  this  day  it  appears  a  very 
plain  duty,  when  our  fellow-men  or  fellow-christians  are  destitute  of 
the  means  of  salvation,  to  make  an  effort  to  supply  them.  It  is  as 
reasonable  and  as  kind,  as  to  give  bread  to  a  starving  man  at  your 
door.     God  opens  the  way  and  gives  us  ability. 

In  1807  this  church  agreed  to  raise  ten  dollars  for  domestic  mis- 
sions. This  was  the  first  effort  ever  made  in  religious  charity  by  the 
people  in  this  place.  And  it  was  a  great  effort ;  we  could  scarcely 
raise  the  sum.  Ten  dollars  does  not  speak  of  our  poverty,  so  much 
as  of  the  narrowness  of  our  conceptions.  The  next  contribution  of 
.'?40  was  for  Foreign  Missions,  of  which  I  have  already  spoken,  to  be 


28 

saved  by  the  more  moderate  use  of  ardent  spirit.  The  third,  amount- 
Hig  to  $i'i,  was  made  by  the  ladies  in  1815  ;  and  continued  with 
some  diminution,  for  manr/  years  and  appropriated  to  the  various  ob- 
jects of  religious  charity  ;  till  the  present  Associations  for  the  purpose 
of  sending  the  gospel  to  the  heathen  were  formed  in  1824  ;  when  the 
amount  of  the  united  contributions  of  the  ladies  and  gentlemen,  was 
$71,  besides  a  box  of  clothing.  These  contributions  have  gone  on, 
generally  increasing,  till  the  last  year,  they  amounted,  besides  the 
Concert  money,  to  more  than  $390.  When  we  began  our  contribu- 
tions at  the  Monthly  Concert  for  Prayer,  they  amounted  to  ten  or 
twelve  dollars  a  year  :  now  they  rarely  fall  short  of  that  at  each  meet- 
ing. The  people  have  contributed  to  a  great  variety  of  objects  more 
or  less  connected  with  the  interests  of  the  church — to  Colleges,  The- 
ological Seminaries,  Meeting  Houses  for  feeble  churches,  the  Tract, 
Education,  Domestic  and  Foreign  Missionary  Societies,  Seaman's 
Friend  Society,  and  some  other  important  objects.  The  whole  amount 
of  their  contributions  within  my  knowledge,  for  these  various  objects, 
since  the  first  of  ten  dollars  in  1807,  and  most  of  which  has  been  giv- 
en within  ten  years  past,  is  $7,450.  The  contributions  in  1830 
amount  to  more  than  81,000,  and  in  1837  to  more  than  $1,100.* 
In  this  connection  I  wish  to  state  some  other  facts,  and  come  to  some 
fair  conclusions,  for  all  the  people  to  look  at  with  a  wise  application, 
and  to  correct  what  some  have  known  to  be  misapprehensions. 

When  I  first  settled  in  the  place  every  family  belonged  to  this  reli- 
gious society  with  the  exception  of  a  very  small  number,  perhaps  ten, 
which  had  united  with  the  Baptists  from  principle.  They  were  Baptist 
people.  All  the  other  property  in  town  was  taxed  for  the  support  of 
the  gospel  here.  The  estimated  value  of  this  property  which  was  tax- 
ed for  the  support  of  the  gospel  was  about  $127,000.  At  present,  not 
less  than  one  third  of  the  families  in  town  have  no  connection  with 
this  Parish,  and  less  than  two  thirds  of  the  property  goes  to  support 
the  gospel,  and  this  portion  of  it  was  valued  in  1835  at  $218,266, 
nearly  double  the  amount  of  the  whole  valuation  in  1798.  So  that 
as  people  have  fallen  off  from  this  Society,  your  ability  to  support  the 
gospel  has  increased ;  and  you  are  now  almost  as  able  to  support  two 
ministers,  as  you  were  one  40  years  ago.  Your  strength  as  a  reli- 
gious society  then,  compared  to  what  it  is  7iow,  was  as  three  to  five. 
Almost  the  whole  that  has  ever  been  contributed  in  religious  charity 

*  Note  M. 


29 

of  which  I  have  spoken,  has  been  done  hy  this  religious  Society,  and 
not  by  the  town,  or  persons  of  other  denominations. 

You  may  then  conclude,  contrary  to  the  predictions  of  some  wise 
men,  that  erecting  this  house  of  worship  has  not  impoverished  you — 
nor  has  the  constant  support  of  the  gospel  impoverished  you,  nor  giv- 
ing your  thousands  for  the  supply  of  the  destitute  and  the  conversion 
of  the  heathen,  nor  yet  abandoning  the  use  and  traffic  of  intoxicating 
drink  and  banishing  it  from  your  midst,  nor  yet  again  has  your  at- 
tendance at  the  sanctuary  on  the  Sabbath  and  the  worship  of  God  in 
season  and  out  of  season,  made  you  poor.  And  where  usually  must 
you  look  to  find  poverty-stricken  families,  except  in  places  where  Sab- 
bath-breaking and  rum-drinking  and  neglect  of  God's  house,  and 
withholding  the  tithes,  and  refusing  the  gospel  to  the  heathen  have 
been,  and  still  are,  the  order  of  the  day  1  Other  things  aside,  the 
Christian  Sabbath,  public  worship,  the  cheerful  support  of  the  gos- 
pel, liberal  contributions  for  its  extension  and  the  relief  of  the  suf- 
fering and  the  practice  of  Christian  sobriety,  all  the  world  over,  con- 
tribute to  the  prosperity  and  general  thrift  of  society.  Every  observ- 
ing and  reflecting  man  must  know  this.  Be  persuaded  then  ever  to 
encourage  these  things  by  all  your  influence  and  by  your  uniform  ex- 
ample. When  these  things  decline,  your  prosperity  will  decline  with 
them,  and  the  Lord  will  blow  upon  your  increase,  and  curse  youf 
basket  and  your  store. 

V.  One  more  subject  I  would  present  before  you,  and  that  is  our 
bill  of  mortality.  No  land  inhabited  by  man  is  uninvaded  by  disease 
and  death — no  retreat  for  our  race  beyond  the  reach  of  those  disturb-; 
ers  of  our  peace,  can  be  found,  and  no  scheme  devised  by  which  man 
may  live  always,  or  be  restored  to  his  original  longevity.  In  respect 
to  the  subject  before  us,  it  may  truly  be  said,  that  we  live  in  a  favored 
portion  of  the  world.  These  hills  and  valleys  of  New  England  fur- 
nish a  healthful  region.  But  though  we  have  ever  been  exempted 
from  the  overflowing  scourge,  which,  in  such  a  population  as  ours, 
sweeps  away  scores  of  children  or  adults  in  a  few  weeks,  and  hardly 
leaves  in  health  sufficient  to  nurse  the  sick  and  bury  the  dead,  yet 
we  have  not  been  strangers  to  the  invasions  of  death,  nor  to  seasons 
of  great  comparative  sickness  and  mortality.  While  God  has  made 
a  diiTerence,  we  have  all  tasted  of  the  bitter  cup  of  sorrow,  and  most 
have  seen  the  time  when  they  might  have  appropriately  adopted  the 
words  of  the  Psalmist,  "  Lover  and  friend  hast  thou  put  far  from  me, 


30 

and  mine  acquaintance  into  darkness."  No  one  acquainted  with  the 
worshipping  assembly  in  this  place  forty  years  since,  that  upon  look- 
ing around  upon  the  assembly  here  to-day,  could  be  unimpressed 
with  the  change.  Let  him  have  been  absent  the  whole  intervening 
period,  and  now  come  into  this  congregation,  and  not  a  single  indi- 
vidual would  he  recognize,  nor  but  few  faces  would  there  be  that  he 
had  ever  seen  before.  There  are  probably  not  more  than  ten  men 
here  to-day  that  had  any  thing  to  do  in  my  settlement — they  were 
young  men.  The  population  has  almost  entirely  changed,  and  much 
of  this  change  is  to  be  ascribed  to  the  wastes  of  death.  "  Our  fa- 
thers, where  are  they  ?"  But  instead  of  the  fathers,  there  are  the 
children,  or  the  children's  children,  or  the  children  of  strangers  who 
have  come  to  inherit  among  us.  The  sum  of  the  ages  of  all  who 
have  died  for  40  years  past,  is  24,100  years.  The  whole  bill  of  mor- 
tality for  the  same  period,  of  whom  77  were  children,  most  of  them 
under  five  years,  is  642  ;  in  the  first  20  years,  257  ;  in  the  second 
20  years,  3S5,  of  whom  144  were  children.  The  proportion  of 
children  to  adults  the  first  20  years,  was  one  third  ;  in  the  second, 
five  thirteenths.  The  last  10  years  gives  us  a  bill  of  mortality  of 
239,  children  98,  or  five  twelfths.  This  you  will  observe  shows  an 
increase  of  mortality  among  small  children.  Almost  twice  the  num- 
ber died  the  last  20  years  as  the  first. 

The  greatest  mortality  and  the  most  distressing  sickness  we  have 
ever  experienced  were  by  the  prevalence  of  fevers,  and  happened  in 
the  years  1822  and  1837.  Our  greatest  number  of  deaths  in  any  one 
year  has  been  31.  The  average  number  of  deaths  for  40  years  is  16 
— of  the  first  20  years,  13;  of  the  second  20  years,  18,  about  I  in 
S4.  No  one  during  this  period  has  arrived  to  the  age  of  100;  still 
19  have  exceeded  90  years,  or  one  to  every  33 


70 

(( 

" 

80 

years, 

" 

8:— 

139 

" 

" 

70 

years. 

" 

4i  :— 

221 

" 

" 

50 

years. 

" 

3:— 

354 

' 

" 

20 

years. 

more    than 

one  half 

of    the 

hole  by  33. 

21 

have  d 

ied  between  10  and  20. 

51 

20  and  30, 

50 

30  and  40, 

34 

40  and  50, 

32 

50  and  60, 

50 

60  and  70, 

31 

59  have  died  between  70  and  80, 
61         ''  "         80  and  90, 

19         "  "         90  and  100. 

333  died  under  ten  years  of  age,  and  most  of  tliem  under  five. 
The  largest  number  that  died  in  any  other  ten  years  of  human  life, 
was  between  80  and  90. 

The  average  age  for  the  term  of  40  years,  is  S7h  years ; — of  the 
first  20  years,  the  average  age  was  43f , — of  the  second  20  years, 
only  33f  years;  or  ten  years  less — the  life  of  man  in  this  place  was 
10  years  less  the  20  years  past,  than  the  20  years  immediately  pre- 
ceding. This  is  a  serious  fact  that  may  well  prompt  to  an  inquiry 
after  the  cause,  if  such  cause  lies  within  human  reach. 

In  every  place  there  are  certain  diseases  which  are  most  prevalent 
and  fatal.  The  most  common  in  our  country,  if  not  the  world  over^ 
are  fevers,  consumptions,  and  bowel  complaints.  About  one-sixth  of 
the  whole  on  our  bill  of  mortality,  have  died  of  fever,  7G  of  consump- 
tion, 50  of  bowel  complaints,  and  more  than  40  of  intemperance,  or 
one  to  every  16  of  all  the  deaths  that  have  happened, — or  one  to  eve- 
ry 10  of  all  the  adults  who  die  ;  or  for  the  last  20  years,  one  to  every 
six.  It  is  painful  to  think  that  so  many  have  committed  suicide,  and 
that  so  many  are  yet  willing  to  be  accessary  to  the  crime.  One  fact 
is  very  noticeable,  and  needs  some  explanation,  viz.  10  or  11  only, 
died  by  intemperance  the  first  20  years  of  my  ministry ;  while  in  the 
second  20  years,  there  have  been  nearly  30.  A  temperance  reform 
in  some  measure,  commenced  25  years  since,  and  for  10  years  has 
now  gone  on  with  power,  and  wrought  wonders  for  many  individuals 
and  families,  and  for  this  Christian  Society,  so  that  if  we  had  not  the 
suburbs  of  our  territory  to  come  in  and  lift  their  hands,  you  would 
not  probably  see  ten  hands  raised  against  the  temperance  cause — it  is 
mostly  the  aliens  from  our  religious  commonwealth ;  men  who  wish 
to  have  no  part  nor  lot  with  us  in  such  concerns  as  we  have  come 
here  to  transact  to-day,  and  such  privileges  as  we  here  enjoy.* 

If  the  temperance  cause  has  made  such  progress  for  10  or  20  years 
past,  how  shall  we  account  for  the  increase  of  deaths  by  mtempe- 
ranee  ?  I  answer ;  you  know  that  many  people  are  headstrong,  espe- 
cially when  they  have  some  darling  appetite  to  gratify,  and  are  oppos- 
ed in  that  gratification.  If  you  attempt  to  restrain  them,  the  more 
recklessly  will  they  press  on,  and  burst  through  every  barrier  you 
throw  in  their  way.     This  appears  the  fact  before  us.     Some  men  are 

*  Note  N. 


32 

/nore  drunken,  the  more  you  attempt  to  make  them  sober — they  prac- 
tically tell  you  that  they  unll  not  be  restrained  by  any  one,  and  that 
they  despise  all  your  labor  of  love.  '  Who  is  Lord  over  us?'  These 
men  were  hard  drinkers  when  your  reform  began,  and  others  besides 
the  dead,  are  practicing  upon  the  same  principle  ;  they  tell  the  world 
that  they  will  not  be  held  back  from  indulgence,  and  to  convince 
them  of  it,  they  must  drink  deeper  and  die  the  sooner.  And  since 
the  Legislature  have  come  to  aid  the  work  of  reform,  they  must  put 
on  still  more  steam,  and  hasten  on  the  faster.  This  legal  effort  will 
not  make  drunkards,  but  it  will  kill  them ;  and  there  will  probably 
be  a  greater  mortality  among  them  for  a  few  years  to  come  than  there 
ever  has  been  before.  Amidst  all  the  miseries  and  shame  of  their 
bondage  they  will  prove  to  you  their  freedom.  Ardent  spirit  and  in- 
temperate living  aside,  who  knows  how  many  of  the  dead  might  have 
been  with  us  to-day  ;  still  in  a  land  of  hope  1 

In  view  of  this  bill  of  mortality  no  age  or  condition  can  feel  them- 
selves secure  from  the  attack  of  disease  or  the  arrests  of  death ;  not 
the  youngest,  nor  the  healthiest,  nor  the  sprightliest,  nor  the  strong- 
est, nor  the  loveliest  of  all,  for  such  verily  have  been  among  the  vic- 
tims of  disease  and  death,  scattered  all  along  the  extended  track  of 
40  years.* 

VL  There  remains  but  one  other  topic  of  discourse,  and  that  is  the 
history  of  myself  When  I  settled  with  you,  I  was  young  and  had 
but  just  arrived  to  the  stature  of  a  man,  with  but  little  experience, 
and  not  half  the  wisdom  and  knowledge  desirable.  Had  I  possessed 
more,  I  probably  might  have  done  more  good,  and  perhaps,  steered 
clear  of  some  troubles  in  which  I  was  early  involved.  It  was  former- 
ly said  by  those  of  much  experience  and  observation,  that  a  minister 
of  Christ  who  is  permanently  settled  must  have  trials  either  in  the 
early  or  latter  part  of  his  ministry.  What  trials  remain  for  me  I  can- 
not say,  neither  am  I  anxious  to  know ;  but  some  I  had  in  former 
times.  Three  years  after  my  ordination  an  attempt  was  made  to 
effect  my  dismission,  and  the  ground  of  dissatisfaction  was  professedly 
the  largeness  of  my  salary — 400  annually. f 

In  1807  there  were  a  number,  who,  professing  to  believe  the  doc- 
trine of  Universal  Salvation,  introduced  a  preacher  of  that  sentiment, 
and  attended  frequently  upon  his  instructions  at  the  Baptist  Meeting 
House,  and  finally  sued  the  Treasurer  to  recover  what  they  paid  to- 
*  Note  O.  .  i  Note  P. 


ward  my  salary.  But  failing  in  this  action,  one  of  them  became  em- 
barrassed in  his  circumstances,  another  died,  another  became  a  slave 
to  the  bottle  and  killed  himself,  and  another  moved  away,  and  here 
ended  the  universal  society  and  all  their  efforts,  so  far  as  we  had  any 
concern  with  them. 

The  next  trouble  arose  from  the  exposure  made  of  intemperance, 
its  extent,  and  abominations  and  effects  upon  the  community,  and  its 
alarming  demands  upon  men's  purses,  which  ought,  if  any  where,  to 
be  paid  over  to  the  cause  of  benevolence.  This  produced  a  great 
commotion — it  was  a  moving  time.  The  lion  had  never  before  been 
stirred  up  from  his  lair.  Some  thought  that  the  minister  had  slan- 
dered the  town,  and  many  felt  dissatisfied.  It  would  not  be  advisa- 
ble to  state  in  detail  all  the  tokens  of  respect,  and  all  the  kinds  of  at- 
tention I  received  in  those  days  of  new  light. 

In  1822  the  agitating  subject  of  building  a  new  house  of  worship 
was  made  by  some  a  matter  of  complaint  against  the  minister  ;  as 
though  he  were  some  how  criminally  concerned  in  the  affair.  And 
this  was  professedly  the  ground  on  which  individuals  declined  attend- 
ing public  worship. 

The  next  event  which  raised  a  storm  that  almost  drove  my  ship 
from  her  moorings,  was  a  sermon  delivered  on  the  annual  Thanks- 
giving, showing  the  reason  we  had  of  gratitude  to  God,  for  the  suc- 
cess of  the  temperance  reformation,  and  how  those  who  traffic  in  ar- 
dent spirit  are  accessory  to  the  evils  and  the  deaths  occasioned 
by  that  traffic.  The  misapprehension  of  one  sentence,  is  supposed  to 
have  been  the  thing  which  set  the  world  on  fire.  Most  of  the  hard 
drinkers  readily  seized  the  opportunity,  to  effect,  if  possible,  my  dis- 
mission ;  whilst  some  who  had  no  part  with  us  in  ecclesiastical  con- 
cerns, and  of  v;hom  we  should  have  expected  better  things,  appeared 
to  fan  the  fire  and  by  their  combined  action,  threaten  my  speedy  re- 
moval. For  one  week,  I  expected  nothing  else.  God,  in  his  provi- 
dence and  in  his  own  way,  extinguished  the  flame,  allayed  the  storm„ 
cleared  the  skies,  and  it  has  been  fair  weather  ever  since — our  surt 
shining  brighter  and  brighter.  But  most  of  our  disturbances  have 
arisen  from  the  influence  of  persons  given  to  mischief  And  when  a 
society  is  rid  of  such  men  they  will  generally  have  peace  and  enjoy~ 
ment.  "  One  sinner  destroyeth  much  good."  We  have  had  some 
striking  illustrations  of  this  sentiment. 

I  have  endeavored,  though  with  much  imperfection  and  weakness, 
to  preach  to  you  the  gospel  of  the   grace  of  God — both   its  doctrines 


34 

and  duties — its  warnings  and  encouragements — its  promises  and 
threatenings.  How  much  soever  I  have  failed  in  the  attempt,  I  have 
endeavored  to  promote  real  revivals  of  true  religion.  A  revival 
preacher,  I  have  thought  to  be  one,  who  with  sincerity,  and  discrimi- 
nation, and  plainness,  and  perseverance,  and  meekness  of  wisdom, 
preaches  the  whole  gospel  for  man's  salvation,  in  humble  dependence 
upon  the  Spirit  of  God  for  success.  I  have  meant  to  present  to  you, 
without  giving  needless  offence  by  mode  of  expression,  all  the  doC' 
trines  of  Christianity  and  inculcate  all  its  duties,  to  expose  all  vices, 
and  sins,  and  crimes,  not  amongst  other  nations  and  communities,  so 
much  as  amongst  ourselves,  and  inculcate  all  Christian  virtues. 

It  has  been  my  study  to  visit  the  sick  and  the  afflicted  in  their  sor- 
rows, the  widow  and  the  fatherless  in  their  afflictions,  and  live  peace- 
ably with  all  men, — to  rejoice  with  those  who  rejoice,  and  render  to  all 
their  dues,  always  giving  special  honor  and  respect  to  those  who 
honor  Christ.  I  have  endeavored  to  preach  the  gospel  in  season  and 
out  of  season.  Through  the  goodness  of  God  to  me,  and  to  you  also, 
so  far  as  my  labors  are  useful,  I  have  rarely  failed  of  being  at  the 
House  of  God  on  the  Sabbath.  Except  in  1813  when  I  was  disabled 
from  preaching  for  three  Sabbaths,  I  have  been  laid  aside  but  1|  days. 
I  have  preached  only  about  2,000  written  discourses,  far  less  than 
some  of  my  age  ;  several  of  which,  through  your  favor  or  that  of 
others,  are  in  print.*  I  wish  my  sermons  had  been  better.  In  some 
parts  of  my  ministry  I  have  not  preached  so  well-studied  and  finish- 
ed sermons  as  I  might  have  done  under  other  circumstances.  For 
notwithstanding  all  your  kindness,t  I  have  had  to  expend  too  ma- 
ny thoughts  and  too  much  time  upon  the  question,  how  I  should 
live  and  support  my  family,  and  still  continue  my  labors  in  this  part  of 
the  vineyard 

From  the  beginning  of  my  ministry,  I  have  not  seen  occasion,  or 
found  any  reasons,  to  change  my  theological  opinions,  or  essentially 
change  my  views  of  the  gospel,  or  the  instructions  I  have  given  you. 
I  have  indeed  somewhat  changed  my  form  of  expression  in  speaking 
of  certain  doctrines,  lest  I  should  leave  the  shadow  of  a  plea  for  the 
sinner  to  remain  impenitent,  and  also  adopted  a  greater  directness  of 
address  in  preaching  to  faithless  men.  I  have  presented  to  your 
minds  the  humbling  doctrine  of  man's  state  of  apostacy  from  God, 
and  of  his  guilty  helplessness — the  ample  provisions  of  divine  grace 

♦  Note  Q.  t  Note  R. 


35 

through  a  crucified  and  arisen  Savior — the  perfections  and  decrees  of 
God,  according  to  which  he  does  all  his  works  of  creation,  provi- 
dence and  redemption — the  moral  agency  and  accountability  of  man 
— the  duty  of  immediate  repentance  and  the  sinner's  aversion  to  it — 
regeneration  by  the  Spirit  of  God  through  the  instrumentality  of  di- 
vine truth — ^justification  by  faith  in  Christ — the  resurrection  of  the 
dead,  and  future  judgment  and  eternal  retribution.  These  things  I 
have  taught  publicly  and  from  house  to  house,  testifying  repent- 
ance toward  God  and  faith  toward  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  But  I  feel 
that  I  have  done  these  things  in  a  very  poor  and  imperfect  manner, 
that  calls  for  the  forbearance  of  man  and  the  forgiving  mercy  of  God. 
God  has  surprised  me  and  shown  you  great  mercy,  in  crowning  the 
dispensation  of  the  gospel  with  success,  so  far  beyond  what  the  im- 
perfect manner  in  which  it  has  been  done  would  have  led  us  to  ex- 
pect. This  treasure  is  committed  to  earthen  vessels,  that  the  excel- 
lence of  the  power  might  be  of  God,  and  not  of  men.  Though  7ni/ 
labors  and  life  will  soon  close,  yet  may  you  live  to  witness  and  expe- 
rience still  greater  things  than  these,  and  instead  of  the  fathers,  may 
there  be  the  children,  and  all  the  children,  from  generation  to  gene- 
ration, to  come  and  worship  before  God  in  this  temple,  and  in  other 
temples  that  shall  stand  up  in  its  stead  in  brighter  and  better  days 
than  these.  And  now,  brethren,  I  comtnend  you  to  God  and  the  word 
of  his  grace,  tvhich  is  able  to  build  you  tip  and  to  give  you  an  inl^§riv 
tance  among  all  them  ichich  are  sanctified. 


APPENDIX 


Dr.  Jacob  Kittridge  was  the  only  physician  in  town  at  the  time 
of  my  settlement  in  1798.  A  few  years  before  his  death  another 
physician  settled  in  the  place,  and  the  following  is  a  list  of  all  who 
have  since  attempted  to  establish  themselves  in  town  as  practicing 
physicians,  viz.  Drs.  Ira  Bryant,  Crossfield,  Daniel  Pierce,  Oli- 
ver Kittridge,  Wright,  Cheney  Potter,   Moses  Porter,   Thomas 

Jones  and  Joshua  Porter,  who  is  now  the  only  physician  in  the  place. 
Dr.  Potter  is  the  only  one  of  the  nine  that  died  amongst  us,  or  con- 
tinued to  practice  any  considerable  number  of  years.  Whether  more 
or  less  skilful,  each  one  had  his  admirers,  who  reposed  in  him  next  to 
unbounded  confidence,  while  others  thought  him  unworthy  to  be 
trusted  with  the  care  of  a  patient,  except  in  the  plainest  case.  It  is 
not  however  to  be  questioned,  but  what  there  were  amongst  them 
worthy  men  of  talents  and  well  read  in  their  profession.  In  respect 
to  physicians,  people  have  their  partialities  and  prejudices  unreason- 
ably strong,  and  not  unfrequently  think  the  most  ignorant  who  are 
loud  in  their  own  praises,  to  be  men  of  consummate  skill ;  and  those 
who  are  twenty  miles  distant,  or  who  bear  the  name  of  some  cele- 
brated physician  in  former  days,  to  be  of  course  far  better  than  their 
own.  The  truth  is,  men  are  disposed,  like  the  King  of  Judah,  to 
expect  too  much  from  physicians,  and  depend  too  little  upon  God. 

B. 

About  25  years  since,  the  manufacture  of  sale  shoes  was  commenc- 
ed upon  a  small  scale  by  Mr.  Oliver  Ward  who  moved  from  Grafton. 


38 

This  business  enlarge;!,  and  in  the  course  of  ten  or  liftcen  years 
hundreds  engaged  in  it,  until  it  became  the  principal  occupation  of 
the  people.  Two  years  since,  shoes  were  manufactured  at  the  rate 
of  nearly  half  a  million  in  a  year,  principally  for  Messrs.  O.  Ward, 
T.  &  E.  Batcheller,  and  F.  Walker,  upon  whom  and  some  others, 
might  well  come  the  blessing  of  some  for  their  present  competency, 
who  were  ready  to  suffer  from  poverty,  if  not  to  perish. 

Some  20  years  ago,  a  person  that  often  travelled  through  the  town 
and  had  been  acquainted  with  it  since  1784,  observed  '  that  he  knew 
of  no  place  that  remained  so  uniformly  the  same  as  North  Brookfield. 
Nothing  doing,  no  new  buildings  going  up,  the  same  old  dwelling- 
houses  and  barns,  the  farms  and  fences  just  so,  all  the  people  plodding 
on  after  the  old  sort,  without  much  life,  or  any  disposition  for  im- 
provement— all  satisfied  with  present  attainments  and  living  at  ease.' 
Since  my  settlement  in  the  place,  there  have  been  erected  in  town 
more  than  100  dwelling  houses,  and  a  number  of  others  have  un- 
dergone repairs  about  equal  to  building  anew.  Most  of  these  houses 
are  large,  commodious  and  well  finished,  70  of  them  erected  where 
no  house  before  stood,  and  much  the  largest  half  within  10  years 
past.  It  is  worthy  of  notice,  that  in  the  course  of  these  40  years, 
but  three  dwellirig  houses  have  been  destroyed  by  fire — all  of  them 
small,  old,  and  of  little  value,  all  together  not  worth  $800,  and  all 
burnt  in  broad  day  light.  The  old  plan  of  insurance,  in  distinction 
from  mutual  insurance,  would  have  carried  out  of  town  in  the  same 
time  not  less  than  $50,000.  This  estimate  is  made  on  the  princi- 
ple that  every  dwelling  house  in  town  is  insured  at  its  full  value  and 
at  the  rate  of  one  half  per  cent.  The  object  of  these  remarks  is  to 
show  the  saving  of  mutual  insurance  companies  above  others,  and 
how  much  less  expensive  it  would  be  for  the  town  to  make  up  all 
losses  occasioned  by  fire,  than  to  have  their  dwellings  insured  on  the 
plan  of  former  days.  Since  the  establishment  of  Mutual  Insurance 
companies,  no  one  who  neglects  to  have  his  dwelling  insured,  can 
expect,  should  it  be  consumed  by  fire,  to  receive  much  assistance 
from  the  community  ;  the  expense  is  so  trifling  and  the  principle  of 
insurance  so  just  and  reasonable. 

c. 

Among  others  who  were  actively  engaged  in  erecting  a  new  house 


39 

of  worship,  were  Col.  C.  Henshaw,  now  of  Boston,  Dea.  W.  Walker, 
Col.  W.  Adams,  Col.  P.  Nye,  Messrs.  P.  Haskell,  F.  Carruth,  &c. ; 
while  some  few  were  active  in  opposing  the  enterprise,  more  espe- 
cially because  the  locating  committee,  (which  consisted  of  Col. 
Jones  of  Barre,  Col.  Sargent  of  Leicester,  and  Esq.  Crocker  of  Pax* 
ton,)  pitched  upon  this  spot  as  the  most  central  and  convenient  place 
where  the  edifice  should  stand.  The  site  and  building,  exclusive  of 
the  bell  which  was  procured  by  subscription,  cost  about  six  thousand 
dollars.  The  slips  were  prized  by  the  builder  so  as  to  cover  the 
whole  expense,  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  hours  were  about  all  sold 
at  auction — none  for  less  than  the  appraisal,  and  the  rest  for  so  much 
more  that  the  amount  of  choice  money  was  about  6700.  It  is  pre- 
sumed that  no  one  at  this  day  is  disposed  to  question  the  wisdom  of 
erecting  this  house  of  v.'orship  uhen^  and  where,  it  was  done. 


The  old  meeting-house  was  allowed  to  stand  for  several  years  after 
erecting  the  new  one  ;  and  was  used  for  a  town-house  and  for  occr> 
sional  religious  meetings  h-eld  by  other  denominations  ;  no  man  say- 
ing aught  against  it.  But  it  became  so  shattered  as  to  be  to  many 
an  eye-sore  ;  and  as  no  vote  could  be  obtained  to  repair  it,  it  was 
agreed  by  the  parish  to  make  arrahgemerits  to  have  it  sold  at  auction  ; 
when  it  was  bid  off  by  Mr.  Charles  Southworth,  and  demolished.  It 
appeared  that  some  had  a  desire  to  have  it  stand,  and  repair  it  for  a 
place  of  worship ;  and  individuals  thinking  that  others  meant  to  de- 
feat this  plan,  were  excited  to  make  an  effort  to  build  a  new  house  of 
worship,  which  resulted  in  the  erection  of  the  small  edifice  now 
standing  nearly  on  the  spot  where  the  first  meeting-hotlse  stood.  A 
dedicatory  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Fiske  now  Presi- 
dent of  Wesleyau  College  in  Middletown,  presenting,  amongst  other 
things,  the  excellences  of  the  plan  adopted  by  his  own  denomination, 
particularly,  in  very  frequent  changes  of  ministers,  so  that  no  one 
should  continue  in  a  place  more  than  two  years,  and  in  many  instan- 
ces but  one  or  two  months.  The  Rev.  Dr.  thought  that  when  a  man 
was  permanently  settled,  he  would  become  of  cowse,  careless  and 
indolent  and  unintere-sting  in  his  services  and  cease  to  be  useful. 
This  dedication  was  attended  with  a  series  of  meetings.  The  Rev, 
Mr.  Davis  was  their  first  minister,  a  very  well  meaning  man,  who 
continued  his  labors  tyvo  years.     The  following  year,  Rev,  Mr.  Mayo 


40 

was  their  preacher.  Who  succeeded  him  is  not  known  to  the  writer. 
But  one  and  another  occasionally  preached,  until  the  house  was  shut 
up  about  one  year  since,  and  has  been  closed  to  this  time.  The  com- 
mittee, or  trustees,  who  contracted  for  building  the  house,  not 
abounding  in  property,  and  being  forsaken  by  several  wealthy  men 
who  had  encouraged  them  to  build,  were  unable  to  fulfil  their  en- 
gagements— the  house  was  attached  and  advertised  for  sale  at  auction. 
What  is  the  present  state  of  the  concern,  I  do  not  know.  Individu- 
als of  the  Congregational  Society  afforded  them  some  little  help  in 
dressing  the  pulpit,  and  in  furnishing  preaching,  as  their  means  were 
small.  A  few  years  since,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Society  was 
requested  to  ascertain  the  number  who  usually  attended  their  meet- 
ing in  good  weather  in  the  summer  ;  it  was  found  to  be  about  one 
hundred.  It  is  hoped  that  these  may  again  be  collected  and  many 
others  also,  who  for  their  own  good  have  been  too  much  estranged 
from  the  sanctuary,  and  coming  under  the  sound  of  the  gospel,  may 
be  converted  from  their  sins  and  feel  its  sanctifying  power. 

Were  we  to  judge  of  the  effect  of  a  very  frequent  change  of  minis- 
ters from  this  particular  case,  according  to  the  doctrine  advanced  in 
the  dedicatory  sermon,  we  should  not  be  very  partial  to  the  plan.  It 
is  believed  that  our  Baptist  friends  have  suffered  no  small  evils  from 
these  frequent  changes,  and  that  the  influence  of  this  system  on  some 
Other  denominations,  is  not  very  salutary. 

H. 

It  is  conceived  that  a  man  without  children,  has  in  fact  a  more 
plausible  excuse  for  refusing  to  pay  his  proportion  for  the  support  of 
common  schools,  than  for  refusing  to  support  the  gospel.  Because 
the  moral  and  religious  instructions  attendant  on  the  public  worship 
of  God  are  a  far  greater  benefit  to  him,  than  the  common  education 
of  the  young.  He  is  receiving  more  and  greater  benefits  from  the 
dispensation  of  the  gospel  where  he  lives,  though  he  never  hear  it,, 
than  from  common  school  education.  And  of  course  he  would  have 
a  better — a  stronger  plea  for  exemption  from  taxation  in  support  of 
schools,  than  in  support  of  the  gospel.  And  doubtless  these  great 
estates  possessed  by  childless  men  which  do  nothing  to  support 
the  gospel,  would  generally  pay  nothing  for  schooling  the  young,  did 
not  the  law  compel  them.  But  how  important  to  the  community — to 
the  preservation  of  our  civil  privileges^  is  the  intelligence  of  tite  peo- 


'      41 

isle? — but  liow  can  a  people  be  intelligent  without  education?  And 
how  will  the  education  of  the  young  be  sustained  without  the  preach- 
ed gospel  ? — The  state  of  education  in  Rhode  Island,  where  the  gos- 
pel has  been  sparingly  preached,  will  read  a  long  a«d  loud  lectufe 
upon  this  subject.  And  what  will  there  be  to  throw  around  men 
necessary  restraints,  and  exert  upon  them  a  civilizing  influence,  and 
set  before  them  proper  considerations,  drawn  from  God's  moral  gov- 
ernment, to  hold  them  back  from  crime,  aside  from  the  instructions 
of  the  gospel  ?  It  is  very  desirable  that  this  subject  be  looked  at  in 
its  true  light,  and  felt  to  the  full  extent  of  its  importance. 

It  is  now  very  generally  considered  a  covenanted  duty  of  members 
of  the  church  in  a  place,  to  do  their  proportion  toward  the  support 
of  Christian  institutions.  '  They  engage  to  attend  on  the  ordinances 
of  the  gospel,  to  strive  for  the  edification  of  the  church,  to  conse- 
crate their  powers  and  faculties  to  the  service  and  glory  of  God,  aiyd 
practice  righteousness,  truth  and  charity.'  But  how  can  this  be,  if 
members  of  the  church  refuse  to  help  defray  the  necessary  expenses 
of  the  ordinances  of  the  gospel,  and  throw  the  whole  burden  upon 
others.  If  oiie  can  excuse  himself,  then  another,  and  indeed  the 
whole  brotherhood  ;  and  then  what  becomes  of  the  preached  gospel 
and  its  ordinances  ?  And  what  becomes  of  the  church  ?  It  is  a 
piece  of  dishonesty  and  a  breach  of  coven.^pt  engagements  for  a 
member  oi  the  church  to  excuse  himself  from  taking  a  proper  share 
in  the  necessary  expenses  of  sustaining  the  worship  and  ordinances 
of  God's  house,  if  a  brother  be  poor,  he  has  then  but  little  to  pay. 
Such  a  neglect  of  duty  is  now  considered  by  the  churches  a  discipli- 
nable offence.  The  enemies  of  the  gospel,  and  all  who  feel  indiffer- 
ent to  its  provisions,  may  be  expected  to  refuse  their  pecuniary  sup- 
port in  many  cases  ;  but  this  can  never  be  consistently  expected  of 
Christians — oi  professors,  under  covenant  bonds  to  sustain  gospel 
ordinances. 

The  present  incumbent  is  the  third  Pastor  of  this  Church.  About 
the  time  it  was  embodied.  Rev.  Eli  Forbes  was  ordained  Pastor,  June 
3d,  1752,  86  years  since — dismissed  March  1st,  1775.     No  account  is 


42 

given  in  the  Church  Records  with  respect  to  the  cause  of  this  erenf^ 
or  the  circumstances  that  led  to  it.  But  I  am  informed,  that  it 
originated  in  difference  of  views  respecting  tlie  controversy  between 
Encrland  and  her  American  Colonies.  The  people  called  him  a 
tory,  and  some  of  the  whigs  stoned  his  chaise  one  evening  as  he 
was  passing  the  street,  which  induced  him  to  ask  a  dismission,  in 
which  request  he  persisted  till  it  was  granted,  and  the  relation  dis- 
solved by  a  mutual  council.  As  soon  as  1776  he  was  installed  ii> 
Gloucester,  where  he  continued  his  ministry  till  1804.  His  Pastoral 
relation  to  the  church  in  this  place  continued  22  years  and  nine 
months.  He  was  a  pleasant,  companionable  man,  and  in  his  day,  a 
popular  preacher.  His  sermons  appeared  better  from  the  pulpit  than: 
from  the  press.  He  was  born  in  Westboro',  and  bore  the  name  of 
Forbush,  and  thus  wrote  his  name  in  the  Church  Records  till,  in  the 
French  war,  he  officiated  as  Chaplain  to  a  regiment  under  the  com- 
mand of  Gen.  Forbes  from  England.  In  conversation  with  him,  he 
somehow  concluded,  whether  with,  or  without  the  help  of  conjecture^ 
I  do  not  know,  that  Forbush  was  a  corruption  of  Forbes,  and  ever 
after  wrote  his  name  accordingly,  and  many  of  his  kindred  did  the 
same  ;  while  others  retain  the  former  spelling  and  pronunciation. 

Rev.  Joseph  Appleton,  who  is  supposed  to  have  been  born  in  Ips- 
wich, was  a  graduate  from  Brown  University,  and  ordained  the  second 
Pastor  of  this  church  in  Oct.  1776 — died  July  25,  1795 — aged  44 
years.  He  continued  Pastor  18  years  and  9  months.  The  ministry 
of  both  these  gentlemen  united,  continued  forty  one  years  and  a 
half.  The  church  was  vacant  about  three  years,  after  Mr.  Appleton's 
decease,  employing^  several  candidates  in  succession,  but  without  suc- 
cess in  any  of  their  attempts  to  settle.  Amongst  others,  they  employ- 
ed Rev.  John  Fiske  of  New  Braintree;  Rev.  Nathaniel  H.  Fletcher^ 
late  of  Kennebunk  ;  Rev.  Dr.  Moore,  late  President  of  Amherst  Col- 
lege ;   and  Rev.  Mr.  Briggs,  now  of  Rochester. 

One  thing  that  contributes  so  much  to  a  frequent  change  of  minis- 
ters, is  the  short  time  the  Churches  hear  their  candidates  ;  perhaps 
from  one  to  four  Sabbaths.  The  gentlemen  above  named  preached* 
for  months — I  preached  Jive  months — almost  half  as  long  as  some  mi- 
nisters now  stay  with  their  people.  And  it  is  believed,  that  in  order  to 
give  the  ministry  greater  permanence,  churches  and  people  must  re- 
turn to  the  good  practice  of  trying  their  candidates  longer,  till  they 
know  their  doctrine,  their  ability,  their  spirit  and  views,  and  how  they 
would  probably  perform  parochial  duty ;  and  every  church  and  society 


43 

iihould  endeavor  to  ascertain  whether  they  shall  be  pleased  with  their 
candidate  for  their  settled  Pastor  and  Teacher.  Unless  time  and  op- 
portunity are  given  for  some  acquaintance,  it  is  probable  that  they 
will  soon  separate. 

This  church  has  always  conformed  to  the  good  usage  of  our  puritan- 
ical ancestors,  in  leading  the  way  in  extending  an  invitation  to  the  can- 
didate to  become  their  Pastor,  followed  by  the  parish  in  a  concurrent 
vote  to  receive  him  as  their  religious  Teacher,  and  making  provision 
for  his  support.  This  order  should  ever  be  observed,  where  people 
mean  that  Christ  shall  have  a  church  in  distinction  from  the  world. 


The  Hon.  Thomas  Hale  was  the  son  of  Capt.  Thomas  Hale,  one 
of  the  first  settlers  in  North  Brookfield,  and  one  that  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  church  when  first  embodied.  He  moved  from  Boxford  in 
the  north-east  part  of  the  state.  Esq.  Hale  was  much  employed  in 
public  business — a  member  of  the  Legislature  for  15  or  20  years — 
for  several  years  a  member  of  the  Senate.  He  had  a  great  share  of 
public  confidence  as  a  man  of  integrity  and  sound  judgment,  was 
very  useful  in  the  community,  a  consistent  man  and  Christian.  He 
cast  his  influence  on  the  right  side  in  civil  concerns,  and  in  such  as 
related  to  education,  morals  and  rt^ligion.  Were  all  public  men  of 
his  spirit  and  character,  our  public  affairs  would  be  in  a  more  pros- 
perous train,  than  sometimes  they  have  been  found.  He  died  in  a 
good  old  age,  holding  fast  the  doctrines  as  summarily  set  forth  in  the 
Assembly's  Shorter  Catechism.  The  two  females  who  only  remain 
of  all  the  church  members  when  I  settled,  are  Mrs.  Rhoda  Potter 
and  Mrs.  Lydia  Gary,  a  sister  of  Esq.  Hale,  both  in  a  state  of  wid- 
owhood ;  the  last,  when  I  settled^  was  th-e  youngest  member  of  the 
church. 


In  the  first  two  revivals  we  were  blessed  with,  in  1817  and  1819, 
several  ministers  in  the  region  came  occasionally  and  preached  at 
week-day  meetings  with  much  acceptance  and  spiritual  benefit  to  the 
people. 

In  the  midst  of  the  revival  in  1831,  we  had  a  series  of  meetings 
for   two  or  three  days   in  succession — several  of  the  ministers  from 


44 

the  neighboring  churches  afforded  their  kind  and  acceptable  assist- 
ance. Though  it  was  a  solemn  and  joyful  time,  in  which  God  made 
bare  his  arm  for  the  conversion  of  sinners  ;  still  I  do  not  think  that 
the  protracted  meeting  was,  on  the  whole,  for  the  greater  prosperity 
of  the  church,  than  the  mode  adopted  years  before,  when  the  Pastor 
performed  most  of  the  labor,  with  the  occasional  assistance  of  his 
brethren.  At  least,  is  is  very  questionable  whether  the  protracted 
meeting  was  instrumental  of  accomplishing  any  greater  amount  of 
good,  than  the  frequent  and  stated  meetings  of  former  days.  And  I 
very  much  doubt,  whether  in  such  a  region  as  this,  abundantly  sup- 
plied with  religious  instruction  and  with  places  of  worship,  it  is  wise 
to  resort  to  such  a  measure  for  the  revival  of  religion,  or  for  the  ad- 
vancement and  extension  of  a  revival,  already  commenced.  Wisdom 
is  profitable  to  direct  what  is  best  to  be  done,  under  circumstances 
that  may,  at  the  time,  exist. 

la  the  revival  of  1887,  the  Pastor  had  7io  help  from  abroad,  except 
in  a  few  meetings  for  prayer.  No  one  but  the  Pastor  preached  dur- 
ing the  time  of  God's  gracious  visitation,  except  in  one  solitary  in- 
stance. Most  of  our  meetings  during  the  week  were  prayer  meet-, 
ings,  except  one  for  religious  conversation  with  anxious  minds,  and 
another  for  instructing  young  converts.  The  brethren  of  the  church 
took  a  very  active  part  in  these  prayer  meetings,  conversing  with  in- 
dividuals, and  addressing  the  hundreds  of  people  assembled  for  reli- 
gious instruction,  and  scores  of  tl  em  under  anxious  concern.  The 
work  of  grace  was  carried  on  with  great  stillness  and  with  much  ef- 
fect upon  many  hearts.  There  was  no  more  preaching  than  at  other 
times,  though  many  more  meetings  for  prayer  and  inquiry ;  some  of 
which  were  conducted  t/:JioIIi/  by  members  of  the  church,  much  to 
the  edification  of  the  people. 

We  never  encouraged  females  to  speak  or  pray  in  promiscuous  as- 
semblies, and  their  own  sense  of  propriety  and  their  understanding 
of  apostolic  injunctions  was  such,  that  no  dissuasives  were  necessary 
to  prevent  it,  and  it  is  questionable  whether  any  efforts  to  induce 
them  to  attempt  it,  would  have  overcome  their  respect  for  the  laws  of 
Christian  decorum. 

The  church  have  neither  sent  for  an  evangelist,  nor  employed  one 
in  those  seasons  of  attention  with  which  we  have  been  blessed. 
Though  they  may  be  better  preachers,  than  the  stated  Pastors  of  the 
churches,  and  more  gifted  men,  yet  there  are  some  very  serious  ob- 
jections to  employing  such  men  as  have  gone  forth  aa  Revival  Preach- 


45 

ers,  among  the  churches  in  our  country  for  a  few  years  past.  They 
are  generally  strangers — the  churches  do  not  know  them — nor  have 
they  tried  them — nor  can  they  say  whether  they  are  worthy  their 
confidence.  In  some  respects  they  are  irresponsible  men.  Who  has 
sent  them  forth  ?  If  disturbers  of  the  Pastors  and  churches  ;  if  in- 
discreet and  injurious  to  the  interests  of  religion  ;  to  whom  are  they 
accountable,  or  to  whom  is  complaint  to  be  made?  Expecting 
soon  to  leave  the  place  of  their  labors,  as  they  are  generally  on  the 
wing,  they  are  induced  to  say  and  do  things  they  would  not  otherwise 
say  and  do,  and  indulge  themselves  in  extravagance  of  speech  and 
conduct,  that  no  man  in  his  sober  senses  can  justify,  and  by  which 
no  respectable  man  would  be  willing  to  have  his  character  tried  and 
deterniined. 

Good  men  may  have  very  wrong  feelings,  and  in  a  measure  come  un- 
der the  influence  of  a  bad  spirit.  Giving  these  men  on  the  score  of 
piety  and  talent,  all  they  can  claim,  they  are  in  danger  of  thinking 
themselves  the  great  power  of  God  and  that  wisdom  will  die  with 
them — of  assuming  authority  over  the  pastors  and  the  right  of  dicta- 
tion in  all  ihe  affairs  of  the  churches — of  pursuing  a  course  which 
will  give  their  own  agency  peculiar  prominence  and  throw  that  of 
God  into  the  back  ground,  and  thus  exalt  the  creature  and  depreciate 
the  grace  of  Heaven.  They  cannot  so  well  know  the  state  of  the 
church  and  the  .spiritual  wants  of  the  people  as  the  minister  of  the 
place,  who  has  for  years  been  conversant  with  them.  For  a  stranger 
to  pronounce  the  church  all  asleep  aixl  dead,  because  they  are  nojt 
on  the  high  pressure  system,  or  are  indisposed  to  follow  in  his  wake, 
is  what  he  has  no  right  to  say,  and  is  illy  calculated  to  promote  the 
cause  of  Christ.  If  we  must  have  these  revival  preachers  to  travel 
the  country,  let  them  be  discreet  men — men  of  modest  pretentions,  of 
Christian  humility,  instructing  others  in  the  meekness  of  tvisdom, 
preaching  the  gospel  in  its  purity  and  simplicity,  seeking  not  their 
own  things,  but  the  things  of  Jesus  Christ — let  thexn  be  men  of  God, 
consulting  the  peace  and  order  and  future  prosperity  of  the  churches, 
and  leaving  it  for  the  after  conduct  of  their  hearers  to  determine  who 
have  been  converted  from  their  sins.  While  some  individuals  may 
have  done  much  good  in  the  church,  still,  take  them  as  a  whole,  it  is 
my  candid  opinion,  that  for  eight  or  ten  years  past,  such  has  been 
their  character,  their  spirit,  their  measures  and  extravagances,  that 
they  have  been  a  curse  to  the  church,  rather  than  a  blessing.  The 
state  of  religion   in  many  parts  of  our  land    affords  sad   evidence   of 


46 

their  unchristian  and  blasting  influence.  If  the  churches  in  the  wes- 
tern sections  of  the  state  outgrow  in  one  generation,  the  injury  they 
received  from  their  measures,  it  will  be  more  than  many  good  men 
anticipate. 

J. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  time  will  soon  come  when  there  will  be  less 
bigotry  and  prejudice  upon  the  subject  of  baptism,  and  when  it  will 
not  be  magnified  above  its  real  importance;  and  when  too,  husbands 
and  wives  who  entertain  different  views  of  the  subject,  shall  cease  to 
vex  each  other  and  to  throw  obstacles  in  the  way  of  what  either  seri- 
ously thinks  to  be  his  duty.  If  the  husband  really  believes  it  a  duty 
to  devote  his  children  to  God  in  baptism,  let  not  the  wife,  who  is  of 
a  different  opinion,  oppose  him  ;  for  she  must  know  that  it  can  do 
no  harm  to  the  children  to  make  the  very  v/orst  of  the  case  ;  and 
her  husband  must  live  in  sin,  (if  he  believe  it  a  duty,)  while  he  neglects 
it.  And  not  only  so;  but  if  it  be  a  divine  institution,  as  many  have 
no  doubt,  and  therefore,  both  the  duty  of  the  parent  and  the  privi- 
lege of  the  children  ;  she  assumes  an  awful  responsibility  in  prevent- 
ing her  husband  from  giving  his  children  to  God  in  this  ordinance. 
I  say,  it  is  a  fearful  thing  to  take  upon  one's  self  such  a  responsibi- 
lity. For  no  person,  who  candidly  looks  upon  the  subject,  can  say, 
that  infant  baptism  is  not  a  divine  institution  :  all  he  can  say  is,  /  hc- 
lieve  it  is  not.  What  is  here  said  of  the  wife,  is  equally  true  of  the 
husband.  If  while  he  has  no  belief  in  infant  baptism  as  required  of 
believing  parents,  his  wife  thinks  it  her  duty  to  dedicate  her  children 
to  God,  let  him  not  forbid  her  this  gratification, — nor  hold  her  back 
from  the  performance  of  what  she  truly  believes  her  duty  and  her 
children's  privilege.  He  has  no  right  to  interfere  in  this  matter  of 
conscience — this  transaction  between  herself  and  God  for  the  good 
of  her  offspring.  This  would  be  an  unkindness  which  no  man  should 
be  guilty  of  toward  his  wife,  and  no  woman  toward  her  husband.  If 
they  differ  in  opinion  upon  this  practical  subject,  let  the  one,  whe- 
ther husband  or  wife,  who  thinks  it  a  duty  God  requires  of  his  peo- 
ple to  dedicate  their  children  to  him  in  baptism,  do  his  duty  without 
being  opposed  and  vexed  and  hindered  by  the  other.  It  is  not  only 
vexatious,  but  wicked  in  professed  Christians  to  keep  back  from  duty 
their  nearest  friends.  Perhaps  you  will  say  it  is  Jiot  his  duty.  But 
he  thinks  it  is ;  and   who  must   determine  ?     Certainly  every  person 


47 

for  himself.  You  are  not  to  be  judged  by  another's  conscience. 
Let  your  wife — your  husband — your  children,  after  proper  measures 
to  enlighten  them,  act  for  themselves  in  the  things  of  religion,  and 
do  what  they  sincerely  believe  to  be  their  duty — let  them  fully  enjoy 
the  rights  of  conscience.  Because  you  are  the  master  of  the  family 
gives  you  no  right  to  control  thch'  consciences.  You  think  it  not 
your  duty  to  dedicate  your  children  to  God  in  baptism  ;  be  it  so ; 
your  husband  thinks  it  is  his  duty.  Then  let  him  do  it  without  your 
interference  or  objection,  lest  you  bring  sin  upon  him  ;  and  unless 
you  think  it  morally  wrong,  go  with  him,  and  assist  him  as  a  kind 
and  affectionate  wife  ought  to  do.  And  the  same  I  would  say  to 
husbands  in  like  circumstances.  This  is  the  course,  it  is  conceived, 
which  the  spirit  of  the  gospel  with  enlightened  views  would  prompt 
Christians  to  pursue. 

We  have  never  been  much  annoyed  by  other  denominations  in  at- 
tempts to  make  proselytes.  The  kw  attempts  which  have  been 
made,  have  succeeded  so  poorly  as  to  prove  a  discouragement  to> 
such  unprofitable  business.  A  large  portion  of  our  Baptist  people 
amongst  us,  have  entertained  too  liberal  views  to  devote  themselves 
to  this  work.  If  people  toish  to  be  Baptists,  let  them  be  so,  for  it 
is  their  right.  But  were  I  to  undertake  to  convert  Baptists,  or  real 
Christians  of  any  other  denomination,  and  induce  them  to  unite  to- 
my  church — were  I  to  enter  their  Society  in  a  revival  season,  and  at- 
tempt to  draw  away  people  to  join  my  Society,  I  should  think  myself 
engaged  in  pretty  small  bushiess  ;  and  no  less  mean  than  smalL 


Dea.  Benjamin  Adams  was  son  of  a  Benjamin  Adams  who  moved 
from  Ipswich,  it  is  believed,  and  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  this- 
town.  He  was  chosen  Deacon  in  1779.  At  the  time  of  my  settle- 
ment no  member  of  the  church  or  parish  had  so  much  influence,, 
probably,  in  ecclesiastical  concerns,  and  especially  in  settling  a  min- 
ister, as  Dea.  Adams.  He  was  a  good  judge  of  preaching,  a  very  at- 
tentive hearer,  always  at  meeting  when  in  health,  a  man  of  intelli- 
gence and  uncommon  attainments  for  one  who  enjoyed  no  greater 
advantages.  He  was  a  valuable  member  of  the  church  and  society, 
was  ready  to  promote  every  good  enterprize,  was  capable  of  impart- 
ing instruction  to  others,  and  very  able  in  prayer.  To  his  youngest 
son.  Rev.  Thomas  Adams,  he  gave  a  public  education,  who  is  now  a 


48 

Settled  minister  in  Waterville  in  Maine  ;  only  one  of  his  cliildren  re- 
mains in  town,  William  Adams,  Esq. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  officers  of  the  church  during  the  40 
years  of  ray  ministry  :  viz.  Samuel  Haskell,  a  good  and  exemplary 
man,  who  died  in  office  1820,  aged  87.  Benjamin  Adams,  who  re- 
signed in  1806,  and  died  in  1829,  aged  81,  having  officiated  27  years. 
Walter  Walker,  appointed  180G,  and  died  in  office  11S35,  aged  62. 
Humphrey  Gilbert  appointed  1810,  resigned  1813,  and  died  1816, 
aged  48.  John  Rice  appointed  1814,  resigned  1820,  and  a  few  years 
since  removed  to  Shrewsbury.  Tyler  Batcheller  and  Joseph  Appletoii 
Moore  were  chosen  to  the  office  of  Deacon  J 820,  and  Barnet  Poland 
and  Lyman  Bush  were  appointed  1834.  These  four  brethren  are 
now  the  officiating  Deacons  in  the  church. 

Deacon  Walker  who  continued  in  office  nearly  30  years,  was  a 
very  useful  man  in  the  church,  as  well  as  Society.  His  influence 
was  uniformly  in  support  of  order,  peace  and  religion.  He  aided  in 
works  of  benevolence  at  home  and  abroad,  and  wished  that  to  be 
done  which  would  promote  the  cause  of  Christ,  while  he  afforded  his 
personal  services  in  the  prayer-meeting,  the  religious  conference,  and 
the  Sabbath  School.  He  was  the  father  of  Amasa  Walker  Esq.  of 
Boston. 

Some  of  the  individuals  who  entered  into  this  plan,  were  Dea.  W. 
Walker,  Dea.  J.  A,  Moore  and  Mr.  Horace  Bailey.  This  was  an  en- 
tirely new  thing  in  the  place,  except  with  one  or  two  young  men,  who 
were  never  accustomed  to  use  spirit.  It  had  been  contended  that 
men  could  not  endure  the  heat  and  labor  of  harvesting  without  the 
help  of  ardent  spirit.  But  the  result  of  the  experiment  wrought 
conviction  in  the  minds  of  all  who  made  it,  not  only  that  spirit  is 
useless  to  the  laborer  in  health,  but  also  that  it  is  injurious — increas- 
ing lassitude  and  weariness  and  pains;  and  enabled  thetn  to  bear  tes- 
timony to  this  fact,  which  greatly  contributed  to  the  success  of  early 
temperance  efforts  in  the  place. 

As  in  other  places,  so  in  this,  many  difficulties  were,  and  still  are, 
to  be  encountered,  and  some  of  a  very  serious  and  trying  nature.  It 
is  extremely  painful  to  think  that  there  should  be  individuals  in  the 
community  who  are  voluntary  caterers  to  the  drunkard's  appetite. 
While  painful  to  contemplate,  it  is  also  exceedingly  vexatious  to  those 


49 

who  would  reform  their  friends  and  bring  them  back  to  sober  life.    I 
have  known  a  benevolent  man  to  move  70  or  80  miles,  and  spend  two 
or  three  years   principally  with  the   design,   if  possible,  by  kind   and 
judicious  management,  to  reclaim  an  intemperate  brother,  and  restore 
him  a  blessing  to  his  distressed  family  and  his  former  circle  of  friends. 
But  he  found  all  his  kind  efforts  in  vain.     And  why  ?     Because  in- 
dividuals there  were,  who  would  counteract  all  the  efforts  he  was 
prompted  to  make  by  his  fraternal  affection.     They  would  entice  him 
away  and  feed  his  appetite,  and  then  rejoice  to  think  that  they  had 
drawn  back  to  the  path  of  shame  and    ruin,   one  whom  a  kind  bro- 
ther would  save.     What  more  unkind  could  they  do?    what  more 
infernal  than  to  glory  in  their   success  ?     I  can  name  no  character 
more  base,  or  more  perfectly   hateful,   than   this.      The   drunkard 
himself,   who  will  finally  be  chargeable  with  self-immolation,  is  an 
honorable  man,  compared  with  one  who   designedly  counteracts  the 
kindest  efforts  to  save  him — efforts  sprmging  from  filial  and  fraternal 
affection — yes,  and  from  a  father's,   a  mother's,   and  even   a  wife's 
sincerest  love.     How  can  we  describe  the  vileness  of  those,  whoever 
they  be,  that  labor  to  defeat  the  efforts  and  blast  the  hopes  of  kind- 
ness in  the  consummation  of  the  drunkard's  ruin? 

With  all   the  discouragements   met  with  in  this  enterprise,  there 
have  happened  many  pleasant  things.     I  must  be  permitted   to  men- 
tion one   in  particular  of  a  very  cheering  character.     One  of  the 
persons  who  made  the  experiment  just  mentioned  and  who  had  en- 
gaged to  procure  signers  to  the  Constitution  of  the  Temperance  So- 
ciety, applied  to  an  aged   gentleman   of  influence  for   his  signature, 
but  he  declined.     The   young  man  began  to  set  before  him  some 
weighty  considerations  that  should  induce  all   the  friends  of  man  to 
enlist  in  this  cause  ;  the  old  gentleman  was  a  little  disturbed,  saying, 
'  I  have  always  been  accustomed  to  use  ardent  spirit,  and  am  now  ad- 
vanced in  life  and  need  this  comfort  in  my  old   age.     I  wish  well  to 
your  cause,  but  cannot  join  you.'     The  young  man  desisted.     In  the 
course  of  a  year  or  two,  a  son  of  the  aged  man,  who  was  almost  ru- 
ined by  strong  drink,  having  signed  the  pledge  and  wholly  abstained, 
began  to  recover  his  health  and  strength,  and  to  attend  to  business, 
and  be  a  comfort  to  his  family.     The  father  observed  it,   and  could 
almost  say,  This  imj  son  was  dead  and  is  alive  again  ;  he  was  lost,  and 
is  found.     The  next  time  he  met  with  the  young  man  who  attempted 
to  obtain  his  pledge  to  the  Temperance  Reform,  he  said,  "  Have  you 
7 


50 

the  Constitution  of  the  Temperance  Society  with  you  ?"     No.     "  / 
wish  to  see  it,  and  put  my  name  to  it  before  I  die." 

Of  this  amount  the  ladies  gave  $30  to  make  their  Pastor  a  life- 
member  of  the  Amer.  B.  Society, — $20  to  make  him  a  member  of 
the  Dom.  Miss.  Society — $50  an  honorary  member  of  the  A.  B.  C. 
F.  M. — $72  to  educate  a  heathen  child  in  Ceylon,  to  bear  the  name 
of  Thomas  Snell — $10  given  by  Miss  Percis  Howe  to  make  her 
Pastor  a  life-member  of  the  Sabbath  S.  S. — $40  were  given  to  make 
him  a  life-member  of  the  A.  E  S. — $25  to  make  him  a  life-member 
of  the  Seaman's  Friend  Society. 

»r. 

How  it  is  in  other  places,  I  am  not  able  to  say  ;  but  in  this  it  is 
very  noticeable  how  few  intemperate  men  attend  public  worship; 
and  indeed,  how  few  men  are  constant  attendants  who  have  not 
adopted  the  principle  of  entire  abstinence  from  ardent  spirit.  Out 
of  the  several  hundreds  who  habitually  attend  our  place  of  worship 
on  the  Sabbath,  I  know  of  but  three  or  four  who,  I  have  any  reason 
to  think,  are  in  the  practice  of  using  ardent  spirit  as  a  drink.  There 
are  a  number  of  this  description,  who  may  occasionally  attend. 
True,  I  do  not  know  how  many  frequently  use  it  in  secret.  But 
such  as  do  it  freely  will  very  soon  be  betrayed. 

Almost  every  constant  attendant  at  the  sanctuary  has  wiped  his 
hands  from  the  sin  of  the  traffic  and  use  of  ardent  spirit.  And  the 
men  who  come  and  vote  and  act  against  the  cause  of  Temperance  in 
our  town  meetings  are  not  those  who  come  here,  or  go  elsewhere,  to 
worship  God — they  do  not  throw  themselves  in  the  way  of  religious 
instruction,  or  under  the  civilizing  and  moral  influence  of  the  gos- 
pel. I  could  point  to  many  persons,  who,  while  they  were  sober 
men,  attended  constantly  the  worship  of  God ;  who,  since  they  have 
become  intemperate,  have  scarcely  been  seen  in  the  sanctuary.  When- 
ever men  are  observed  to  fall  into  the  sin  of  intemperance,  you  may 
expect  with  much  certainty  that  they  will  soon  absent  themselves 
from  the  place  of  worship.  How  surely  then  is  the  intemperate  man 
in  the  highway  to  everlasting  ruin !      While  he  lives  in  sin  and 


51 

drowns  his  sense,  he  voluntarily  throws  himself  out  from  under  the 
influence  of  that  gospel  which  God  has  appointed  to  bring  sinners  to 
heaven. 

It  is  not  the  regular  attendants,  or  even  the  supporters  of  public 
worship,  with  very  few  exceptions,  who  come  and  lift  their  hands 
against  the  cause  of  temperance ;  but  strangers  to  the  sanctuary — 
aliens  from  our  religious  commonwealth. 


Besides  the  number  of  deaths  by  particular  diseases  already  men- 
tioned, it  may  not  be  amiss  to  state  that  there  have  died 


Of  Old  Age, 

.  53. 

Meazles, 

.  10. 

By  Fits, 

.  32. 

Canker-Rash,     . 

10. 

"    Paralysis, 

.  29. 

Pleurisy,     . 

.    9. 

"    Dropsy, 

.  25. 

Worms, 

.    9. 

Affection  of  the  Liver, 

.  13. 

Croup, 

.    8. 

Child-birth, 

.  12. 

Dropsy  in  the  Brain, 

.     7. 

Casualties, 

.  10. 

Whooping  Cough, 

.    5. 

Some  were  probably  more  dissatisfied  with  the  doctrine  preached 
than  with  the  salary.  A  second  attempt  was  made  in  the  year  fol- 
lowing to  effect  my  dismission,  and  in  the  same  way.  Expecting 
another  attempt  of  the  same  kind  the  next  year,  I  proposed  that  at 
some  proper  time  and  in  some  proper  way,  the  members  of  the  parish 
should  candidly  and  freely  express  their  wishes  with  respect  to  my 
continuing  their  religious  teacher,  in  order  that  I  might  know  the 
path  of  my  duty  ;  and  that  I  did  not  wish  to  remain,  if  the  people 
did  not  wish  to  have  me.  A  meeting  was  accordingly  called,  and 
being  a  pleasant  day,  was  fully  attended,  about  130  voters  being  pre- 
sent. Thirty  expressed  their  dissatisfaction,  and  the  rest  a  desire 
that  I  should  continue  my  services.  This  meeting  put  all  things  to 
rest  for  a  number  of  years. 


During  the  first  20  years  of  my  ministry,  I  exchanged  pulpits  very 
frequently.     My  place  was  supplied  by  other  Ministers  one  third  part 


52 

of  the  time,  and  some  years  much  more.  Though  some  exchanges 
are  pleasant  for  Ministers  and  agreeable  to  people,  if  not  profitable, 
yet  it  is  my  opinion  that  many  exchanges  are  not  good  either  for  a 
Minister,  or  his  people.  It  is  calculated  to  alienate  their  affections, 
or  at  least,  to  induce  a  people  to  imagine  that  their  Minister  cares 
but  little  about  them,  and  this  will  of  course'prevent  that  attachment 
to  him,  which  they  might  otherwise  have.  The  more  Minister  and 
people  are  together  in  social  intercourse,  in  the  solemnities  of  reli- 
gious meeting,  and  in  the  trying  and  affecting  scenes  which  are  con- 
stantly presenting  themselves  in  a  parish,  the  stronger  their  mutual 
attachments — the  more  will  the  people  feel  that  their  Minister  is  their 
own — one  of  their  number  ;  and  the  more  will  he  feel  that  the  people 
are  his  charge,  and  the  more  will  he  sympathize  with  them  in  all 
their  joys  and  sorrows.  I  should  not  advise  a  young  Minister  to  be 
very  much  absent  from  his  people  either  by  exchange,  or  otherwise, 
lest  he  beget  in  them  the  idea,  that  he  feels  indifTerent  to  their  wel- 
fare. It  is  pleasant  to  them,  and  is  calcuhited  to  do  them  good,  to 
believe  that  their  Minister  loves  them  and  labors  to  promote  their 
happiness. 

In  times  of  special  attention,  I  have  always  attended  three  exercis- 
es on  the  Sabbath  ;  and  since  a  village  has  sprung  up  around  the 
place  of  worship,  so  that  300  souls  or  more  are  within  about  half  a 
mile,  embracing  many  young  people,  I  have  uniformly  in  good  wea- 
ther, attended  a  third  service  :  not  however,  because  I  think  the  same 
individuals  can  generally  profit  more  by  three  services  than  two;  but 
because  some  who  cannot  attend  the  usual  exercises  will  have  an  op- 
portunity to  attend  the  third,  and  because  many  people  in  a  village, 
without  a  third  religious  service  where  they  can  attend,  will  have 
strong  temptations  to  spend  the  evening  hours  of  the  Lord's  Day  very 
unprofitably.  I  would  have  a  third  religious  exercise  of  some  sort, 
for  the  purpose  of  preventing  an  open  profanation  of  the  Sabbath,  if 
there  were  no  other  object  to  be  secured.  In  every  considerable  vil- 
lage where  an  assembly  can  easily  be  convened,  it  appears  to  me  a 
matter  of  no  small  importance,  that  in  favorable  weather,  the  young 
people  especially,  have  opportunity  to  attend  an  evening  meeting.  If 
it  be  of  no  use  in  other  respects,  it  may  prevent  much  evil.  Impress- 
ed with  this  consideration,  I  have  generally  had  a  Sabbath  Evening 
Lecture  for  7  or  10  years  past;  and  to  unite  variety  with  instruction, 
have  criven  a  course  of  lectures  upon  the  most  important  portions  of 
Sacred  History  from  the  creation  to  the  reign  of  David,  making  in 


63 

all  about  200 — the  assembly  in  pleasant  weather  varies  from  150  to 
250. 

For  several  years  past,  I  have  had  a  class  of  young  gentlemen  in 
the  Sabbath  School,  placing  myself  among  other  teachers  under  the 
supervision  of  the  Superintendent.  Once  I  was  unable,  or  thought 
myself  unable,  to  perform  the  services  of  a  third  meeting  on  the  Sab- 
bath; but  upon  experiment,  I  find  it  can  be  done.  I  had  but  little 
to  do  with  the  Sabbath  School  for  a  number  of  years,  thinking  that 
I  could  not  endure  the  service.  But  finding  a  class  of  men  who 
would  be  pleased  to  have  me  instruct  them  in  such  portions  of 
scripture  as  I  thought  best,  I  took  the  charge  of  them  to  the  number 
twenty  or  thirty,  and  I  must  say,  that  it  is  one  of  the  most  pleasant 
services  I  perform  on  the  Sabbath.  And  several  important  advan- 
tages attend  it,  that  I  did  not  fully  estimate  till  I  made  the  experi- 
ment. One  is,  I  learn  the  turn  of  mind,  and  the  talents  of  the  young 
men,  and  their  mode  of  thinking — learn  something  of  their  know- 
ledge of  the  Scriptures — learn  their  views  of  the  doctrines  of  Chris- 
tianity and  of  its  institutions  and  precepts — learn  their  objections 
and  their  errors,  and  their  feelings  on  religious  subjects,  by  which  I 
am  enabled  to  shape  some  of  my  public  discourses,  whi]e  it  furnishes 
me  an  opportunity  to  correct  any  erroneous  views  of  divine  truth, 
and  to  present  my  own  views  of  the  great  doctrines  of  Christianity. 
One  other  thing  it  does,  viz.  it  prepares  the  way  for  me  to  invite  any, 
and  every  body,  to  join  the  Sabbath  School,  since  I  belong  to  it  my- 
self? and  if  they  can  find  no  better  place,  to  come  into  my  class,  and 
I  will  instruct  them  according  to  the  best  of  my  ability. 

It  may  be  some  gratification  to  individuals  of  the  new  generation 
who  have  never  seen  the  sermons  in  print  to  which  I  alluded,  to  know 
on  what  occasions  they  were  delivered.  For  their  satisfaction  I 
would  mention  some  of  the  occasions  and  subjects.  The  sudden 
death  of  Capt.  S.  Skerry — The  death  of  Mr.  Daniel  Tomlinson,  jun., 
eldest  son  of  Rev.  D.  Tomlinson — Dismission  of  Dr.  Moore  from 
Leicester — Two  Discourses  on  our  War  with  England — Before  the 
Gen.  Ass.  of  Mass. — Before  the  Society  for  the  Reformation  of  Mo- 
rals— Ordination  of  Rev.  Mr.  Gaylord — Before  the  Legislature — The 
Submission  of  the  Sinner  to  God — Formation  of  Missionary  Society 
— Dedication  of  new  Meeting-house — On  Temperance,  &c. 


54 


I  wish  to  speak,  with  sentiments  of  gratitude,  of  the  kindness  of 
the  people,  which  I  have  experienced  in  prosperity  and  adversity. 
From  individuals  both  of  ladies  and  gentlemen,  I  have  received  ma- 
ny hundreds  of  dollars  within  15  or  20  years  past.  Some  of  this  has 
probably  been  bestowed  as  a  token  of  respect ;  but  most  of  it  under 
the  impression  that  my  salary  was  inadequate  for  my  support.  Aside 
from  this  friendly  aid  my  circumstances  must  have  been  very  much 
straitened.  Take  the  whole  forty  years  of  my  ministry,  my  salary 
has  not  paid  my  current  expenses  ;  the  contributions  of  individuals 
have  in  some  measure  supplied  the  deficiency.  The  money  I  had 
when  I  commenced  keeping  house,  had  it  been  put  upon  interest, 
would  at  this  time  have  amounted  to  more  than  I  now  possess. 

I  said  that  individuals  have  bestowed  upon  me  their  bounty  and 
enabled  me  to  live  ; — I  would  add,  that  very  much  has  been  done  in 
and  for  North  Brookfield  by  individual  effort ;  far  more  than  many 
are  aware.  Many  hundreds  of  dollars  have  been  expended  for  the 
common  benefit  of  the  Parish,  if  not  of  the  town,  that  was  contribut- 
ed by  individuals,  which  might  have  been  raised  by  a  common  tax 
without  injustice.  I  have  more  particular  reference  to  the  support 
and  improvement  of  sacred  music.  That  Christian  Psalmody  has 
risen  among  us  within  40  years  past,  every  body  knows  who  remem- 
bers any  thing  about  those  days.  As  to  what  it  was  then,  I  would 
only  say,  that  it  was,  as  in  many  other  places,  poor  enough.  That 
we  have  now  respectable  singing,  evcri/  body  allows.  So7ne  think  that 
we  have  excellent  Psalmody.  Many  strangers  say,  that  they  have 
heard  no  such  church  music  and  seen  no  such  choir  of  singers  in  the 
■country,  or  even  in  the  city,  with  one  exception — amounting  to  more 
than  100.  Now  making  all  allowance,  on  what  score  you  please,  for 
these  opinions,  it  must  be  admitted  that  our  style  of  music  has  great- 
ly improved.  But  at  whose  expense?  I  have  found  an  article  for  rais- 
ing money  to  encourage  sacred  music  in  ten  different  Parish  War- 
rants— in  five  cases  the  article  was  passed  over  ;  in  one  $C0  were 
raised;  in  another  $40;  in  three  others  $30  each=l90  in  the  whole, 
during  forty  years — not  half  enough  to  keep  the  breath  of  life  in 
singing.  Sacred  music  has  been  sustained  and  improved  and  come 
to  what  it  is  among  us,  icholly  by  individual  contribution  and  effort ; 
and  principally  by  the  singers  themselves.     They  furnish  books  of 


55 

music — books  of  hymns — instruments  of  music — time  for  learning 
music  and  making  proficiency — and  in  addition  to  all  the  rest,  money 
to  furnish  accommodations  and  hire  a  Teachel^  Is  this  equal  ?  Is 
it  right  1     Let  every  man  answer.  • 


